Division  ^555 1 

Section  ,H4Z 

V,  ^ 


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The  Appellate  Court  Building,  New  York 


THE  WISDOM  OF  THE  LAW 

From  a  'painting  by  Henry  0.  Walker 


THE 


MASTER  LIBRARY 


THE 

LIVING  WISDOM 


VOLUME  FOUR 


THE  FOUNDATION  PRESS,  INC. 

Cleveland,  Ohio.  Springfield,  Mass.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Copyright,  1923 

THE  FOUNDATION  PRESS,  Inc. 
Cleveland,  Ohio 


Printed  in  U.  S.  A.  1925 


The  Oncoming  Generation 

AND  TO  ALL  WHO  WOULD  HAVE  A  NEW 
VISION  OF  THE  BEAUTY  AND 
THE  POWER  OF  THE 
MESSAGE  OF 


LIFE 


' 


. 


i 

■ 


EDITORIAL  BOARD 

General  Editor 

Walter  Scott  Athearn,  A.M.,  LL.D. 

Dean,  Boston  University  School  of  Religious  Education  and  Social  Service 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Education  of  the  International  Sunday  School 

Council  of  Religious  Education 

Author  of  “The  Church  School,”  “Religious  Education  and  American  Democracy,” 

“A  National  System  of  Religious  Education,”  etc.,  etc. 

Art  Editor 

Henry  Turner  Bailey 

Director  of  the  Cleveland  School  of  Art,  and  of  the  John  Huntington  Polytechnic 

Institute,  Cleveland 

Author  of  “The  Blackboard  in  Sunday  School,”  “The  Flush  of  The  Dawn,” 
“Photography  and  Fine  Art,”  “Twelve  Great  Paintings,”  “Symbolism 

for  Artists,”  etc.,  etc. 

Associate  Editors 

Charles  Reynolds  Brown,  A.M.,  S.T.B.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Dean,  The 
Divinity  School,  Yale  University,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Frederick  Carl  Eiselen,  A.M.,  B.D.,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  Dean,  Garrett 
Biblical  Institute  and  Professor  of  Old  Testament  History 
and  Literature,  Evanston,  Illinois. 

John  Richard  Sampey,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  Old  Testament  His¬ 
tory  and  Literature,  Southern  Baptist  Theological  Seminary, 
Louisville,  Kentucky. 

Wilbur  Fisk  Tillett,  A.M.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  S.T.D.,  Dean,  Vanderbilt 
University,  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Ira  Maurice  Price,  A.M.,  B.D.,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  Semitic 
Languages  and  Literature,  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago, 
Illinois. 

Albert  Edward  Bailey,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Religious  Art  and  Archaeol¬ 
ogy,  Boston  University,  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

James  Isaac  Vance,  A.M.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Pastor,  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

George  Livingstone  Robinson,  A.M.,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Professor 
of  Old  Testament  History  and  Literature,  McCormick  Theo¬ 
logical  Seminary,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Elson  Irving  Rexford,  M.A.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  D.C.L.,  Principal,  Diocesan 
Theological  College,  Montreal,  Canada. 


IX 


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PREFACE 


NO  nation  ever  loved  its  land  more  deeply  than  did  Israel. 

That  love  has  been  undying.  Even  today  aged  Jews 
gather  each  week  beside  the  foundations  of  the  walls  of 
the  Temple,  bewail  its  ruin  and  pray  for  its  rebuilding.  The 
powerful  movement  called  Zionism  is  working  all  the  time  to 
make  it  possible  for  the  Jews  of  the  world  to  regain  their  na¬ 
tional  home.  There  were  many  patriotic  poets  in  the  olden 
days  who  sang  their  love  of  country.  They  pictured  its  beauty 
and  sacredness;  they  lamented  its  sorrows  and  foresaw  doom 
to  its  enemies ;  they  looked  forward  to  its  future  glory  and  to 
its  world-wide  influence.  The  conditions  they  beheld  in  their 
land  have  been  repeated  in  other  lands;  the  tendencies  they 
noted  and  deplored  exist  today  in  our  own  country;  and  the 
lessons  they  learned  as  to  what  constitutes  a  nation’s  real 
glory  and  prosperity  are  lessons  that  we  need  to  learn. 

Some  of  these  patriotic  poets  were  also  prophets.  The 
prophets  were  not  so  much  men  who  foretold  the  future  as 
men  divinely  guided  who  interpreted  their  own  age.  They 
had  great  and  wise  social  ideals.  We  do  well  to  study  those 
ideals,  and  to  realize  how  each  one  of  them  was  first  a  man  for 
his  own  time,  and  then  a  man  who  in  his  own  time  had  a  mes¬ 
sage  for  all  time. 

Another  type  of  man  lived  in  old  Judea,  known  as  44  the 
wise  man,”  or  the  sage.  These  were  sometimes  the  town 
officials;  oftener  perhaps  the  elders  of  the  city.  They  gath¬ 
ered  in  the  market  place  and  by  the  city  gate,  and  exchanged 
wisdom;  and  there  people  collected  to  listen  to  them.  They 
had  no  formal  philosophy,  and  they  probably  were  seldom 
writers.  But  they  were  close  observers  and  shrewd  thinkers, 
and  they  had  developed  that  art,  which  is  so  dear  to  the 
Oriental,  of  condensing  their  thoughts  into  pithy  sayings, 


XI 


Xll 


PREFACE 


memorable  because  of  their  brevity  and  their  acute  contrasts 
and  similitudes.  The  prophets  saw  life  in  its  large  relations 
and  its  far-reaching  significance;  the  sages  had  practical  ad¬ 
vice  for  the  present. 

What  both  prophets  and  sages  have  to  teach  us  is  so  sound 
and  so  inspiring  that  we  may  well  call  this  volume  The  Living 
Wisdom. 


THE  VOICES 

Heard  are  the  voices, 

Heard  are  the  Sages, 

The  Worlds  and  the  Ages: 
“Choose  well,  your  choice  is 
Brief  and  yet  endless. 

Here  eyes  do  regard  you 
In  Eternity’s  stillness; 

Here  is  all  fulness. 

Ye  brave,  to  reward  you: 
Work,  and  despair  not." 

— Goethe 


CONTENTS 


THE  GREAT  MESSAGES  OF  THE  PROPHETS 

PAGE 

Amos .  5 

Hosea . 13 

Isaiah . 18 

Micah . 27 

Jeremiah . 33 

Nahum . 44 

Zephaniah . 48 

Habakkuk . 54 

Ezekiel . 58 

Isaiah,  Prophet  of  the  Messiah  »  77 

Obadiah . 85 

Haggai  and  Zechariah . 89 

Malachi . 95 

Joel . 99 

Anticipation  of  the  Messiah . 107 

SOCIAL  IDEALS  OF  THE  HEBREWS 

God’s  Attitude  Toward  Social  Iniquity  .  .  .  114 

His  Uncompromising  Justice . 114 

Protests  Against  Corruption . 117 

Against  Indifference  to  Social  Evils.  .  .  .  117 

Against  Those  Who  Mistreat  the  Laborer  .  .  119 

Against  Those  Who  Defraud  the  Poor  .  .  .  120 

Against  Injustice . 125 

Against  Corrupt  Judges . 126 

Against  Bribery  and  Graft . 128 

Against  the  Sins  of  Wealth  and  Luxury  .  .  129 

Against  Intemperance . 130 

Against  Idolatry . 131 


Xlll 


XIV 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Against  Sins  in  God’s  House  .....  136 

Against  False  Prophets . 137 

Against  the  Sins  of  the  Northern  Nation  .  .  139 

Against  the  Careless  Women  of  Israel  .  .  .  141 

Against  All  Kinds  of  Iniquity . 143 

The  Triumph  of  Justice  ........  147 

The  Covenant  with  Death  Shall  Fail  .  .  .  147 

Secret  Iniquity  Shall  Decline . 148 

God  Will  Punish  the  Iniquitous . 149 

God  Will  Rescue  His  Faithful . 150 

Methods  of  Securing  the  Social  Good  .  .  .  151 

Individual  Righteousness . 151 

The  Rule  of  a  Good  King . 155 

The  Ideal  Social  Servant:  The  Messiah  .  .  161 

Israel,  Jehovah’s  Servant . 161 

The  Servant  Who  Learns  and  Who  Suffers  .  163 

The  Servant  of  Meekness  and  Constancy  .  .  164 

The  Servant  Anointed  for  His  Task  .  .  .  164 

PATRIOTIC  POETRY 

Love  of  Tribe  and  Country . 169 

The  Sorrows  of  a  People  Who  Forget  God.  .  179 

The  Doom  of  Worldly  Nations . 195 

The  Glorious  Future . 213 

The  Better  Country . 229 

God’s  Purposes  for  the  Whole  World  .  .  .  239 

THE  WORDS  OF  THE  WISE 

Wisdom  and  Its  Teachings . 247 

The  Instruction  of  Wisdom . 247 

The  Call  of  Wisdom . 247 

In  Praise  of  Wisdom . 249 

Wisdom’s  Warning . 252 


CONTENTS  xv 

PAGE 

A  Wise  Man’s  Experiment  with  Life  .  .  .  253 

Security  the  Gift  of  Wisdom . 257 

Where  Shall  Wisdom  Be  Found . 258 

Life  and  Its  Compensations . 261 

The  Inner  Spirit  of  Man . 261 

The  Righteous  and  the  Wicked . 262 

Rewards  of  the  Righteous . 266 

The  Lot  of  the  Transgressor . 270 

Trust  in  the  Lord . 272 

JOB 

The  Prologue . 277 

The  Curse . 283 

The  First  Cycle  of  Argument . 286 

The  Second  Cycle  of  Argument . 314 

The  Third  Cycle  of  Argument . 329 

The  Speeches  of  Elihu . 346 

The  Answer  of  God . 358 

The  Epilogue . 371 

EXPLANATORY  NOTES . 375 

BIBLE  REFERENCE  INDEX . 391 


THE  HOLY  LIGHT 


Thou  sacred  flame,  so  mellow  and  subdued, 
Burning  with  tremulous,  flickering  beam 
In  the  holy  place,  before  the  All-Supreme, 

As  though  the  very  fire  were  all  imbued 

With  that  almighty  prophet’s  humble  soul. 

With  Moses’  sense  of  deep  humility, 

Whose  height  of  feeling  knew  no  humble  goal. 
Whose  aims  bore  naught  of  man’s  futility; 

Thou,  holy  fire,  whose  light  shall  ever  guide 
The  steps  of  wandering  Israel,  to  the  shrine 
Of  Him  who  was,  who  is,  and  ne’er  will  cease 
To  be;  whose  luminous  fire  gleams  down  the  tide 
Of  centuries,  both  of  greatness  and  of  woe, 

When  Israel’s  greatness  bore  a  trace  divine, 

When  Israel’s  fortune  sank,  far,  far  below 
Even  the  lot  of  those  poor  Nubian  slaves, 

Who  served  our  fathers  in  the  promised  land: 

To  thee,  O  ancient  light!  whose  very  name 
Is  a  memorial  of  God’s  earliest  Word, 

We  look  to  thee,  and  hail  the  conquering  hand 
Of  Wisdom’s  day,  o’er  spiritual  night. 

And  breathe  with  God  the  prayer:  “Let  there  be 
Light.”  — George  Jay  Holland 


XVI 


THE  GREAT  MESSAGES  OF  THE  PROPHETS 


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THE  PROPHETS 

Those  Who  Spoke  to  the  People  on  Behalf  of  God 

THE  books  of  the  prophets  occupy  more  than  one-fourth 
of  the  Old  Testament.  They  were,  and  are,  of  the  great¬ 
est  importance.  Yet  most  of  us  know  little  about  them. 
So  much  has  been  discovered  during  our  own  generation  of  the 
meaning  of  these  messages  that  a  real  privilege  awaits  us  in 
the  study  of  them.  They  do  not  always  yield  their  treasures 
to  the  careless  reader,  but  examination  soon  shows  how  each 
prophet  had  an  important  message  for  his  time;  a  message, 
often,  that  with  a  little  thought  may  be  applied  to  conditions 
of  our  own  day. 

However  interesting  a  prophet’s  predictions,  his  principal 
task  was  not  to  foretell  but  to  “forth-tell,”  to  speak  in  behalf 
of  God.  Today  we  should  probably  call  such  a  man  a  reformer. 
The  Hebrews  had  two  words  for  “prophesy”;  one  meant  “to 
see,”  the  other  “to  pour  forth.”  To  them  a  prophet  was  a 
man  of  vision,  and  one  who  poured  forth  what  he  had  seen. 

Wherever  the  writings  of  a  prophet  have  to  do  directly 
with  the  reign  of  a  particular  king,  we  have,  in  Volume  Two, 
included  them  with  the  history  of  his  reign.  But  to  do  justice 
to  these  great  reformers  and  leaders  we  must  do  more  than 
that.  In  the  following  pages  each  seer’s  purpose  and  message 
is  clearly  outlined,  and  his  characteristic  prophecies  are  so 
arranged  as  to  illustrate  that  message  most  clearly. 

In  the  section  devoted  to  “Social  Ideals  of  the  Hebrews,” 
other  portions  are  included,  showing  how  all  these  precepts 
make  a  consistent  whole. 

The  prophets  are  here  arranged,  so  far  as  known,  in  the 
order  in  which  their  books  were  written. 

There  are  differences  of  opinion  as  to  just  what  names 
make  up  the  roll  of  the  prophets.  Elijah  and  Elisha  should 


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certainly  be  included  among  the  prophets,  although,  so  far  as 
we  know,  they  wrote  nothing.  The  stories  about  Daniel,  who 
was  perhaps  a  sage  rather  than  a  prophet,  are  to  be  found 
among  the  patriotic  narratives  in  Volume  Three.  The  Book 
of  Jonah,  being  the  story  rather  than  the  sayings  of  a  prophet, 
is  included  in  that  same  section. 


AMOS 


Prophet  of  Divine  Righteousness  and  Social  Justice 

WHEN  Rudyard  Kipling  wrote  his  Recessional,  he  looked  the 
greatest  empire  on  earth  in  the  face  when  she  was  at  the  height 
of  her  power  and  pride.  Scorning  her  arrogance  and  boasting, 
he  called  her  to  penitence  and  prayer;  and  he  did  it  through  the  power 
of  a  deep-toned  poem.  So  Amos  faced  Israel  in  the  zenith  of  her  power  and 
prosperity.  He  denounced  her  iniquities,  blasted  her  false  hopes,  and  called 
her  to  social  justice  and  rectitude  in  the  name  of  a  God  who  hated  empty 
ceremonials,  but  who  demanded  that  “justice  roll  down  like  waters,  and 
righteousness  as  a  perennial  stream.” 

A  striking  figure  among  the  prophets  is  Amos!  A  herdsman  and 
dresser  of  the  sycomores  in  the  village  of  Tekoa,  his  very  occupation  gave 
him  leisure  for  observation  and  thought,  made  him  alert  and  fearless, 
quickened  his  imagination  and  widened  his  outlook.  During  his  visits  to 
the  northern  cities  he  was  able  to  observe  conditions,  and  he  found  them 
most  disheartening.  We  gather  from  his  writings  that  wealth  and  extrava¬ 
gance  flaunted  itself  on  every  hand.  There  were  stone  palaces  with  ivory 
panels,  extravagantly  furnished  summer-houses  and  winter-houses,  the 
use  of  the  chief  oils,  the  choicest  meats,  the  finest  music;  and  all  accom¬ 
panied  by  shameless  revelries  and  immoralities. 

Religiously,  all  was  empty  ceremonial  and  show,  though  the  sanc¬ 
tuaries  were  well  filled  and  well  supported.  The  people  were  made  to  feel 
that  they  were  being  highly  favored  by  God,  for  did  he  not  choose  them 
among  all  the  peoples  of  the  earth?  The  Day  of  Jehovah  was  near  at  hand, 
a  day  of  great  light  for  Israel  and  darkness  for  her  enemies.  Politically, 
there  were  competing  parties  working  against  each  other,  while  outwardly 
all  seemed  serene.  In  the  meanwhile,  Assyria  lay  along  the  horizon  like  an 
ominous  and  rising  cloud.  Worse  still,  violence  and  oppression  prevailed 
everywhere,  and  the  nobles  led  in  vice  and  crime.  Wealth  was  secured  by 
violence,  by  the  enslavement  of  the  poor,  by  dishonesty  in  trade,  by  pres¬ 
ents  and  bribes,  and  by  the  corruption  of  the  courts. 

As  he  brooded  over  these  conditions,  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  him 
and  compelled  him  to  turn  prophet.  Where  and  how  he  got  his  education 
we  have  no  means  of  knowing,  but  he  is  a  standing  wonder  and  delight 
among  the  prophets. 

Again  and  again  he  appeared  at  the  sanctuaries,  denouncing,  con¬ 
demning,  pleading,  till  one  day  he  was  driven  from  the  royal  sanctuary  of 
Bethel  by  Amaziah  the  priest,  to  preach  no  more  in  Israel.  Hereafter  he 
wrote  down  his  messages,  thus  becoming  the  first  of  the  literary  prophets. 


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©Underwood  &  Underwood 


TEKOA,  THE  HOME  OF  AMOS 

This  is  a  place  of  visions.  The  horizons  are  far  away,  the  monotonous  landscape  fur¬ 
nishes  no  object  for  the  attention,  except  as  the  temporary  tents  of  the  Bedouins  may  lead  one 
to  think  of  the  problems  of  life.  Beyond  the  horizon  to  the  east  and  the  south  is  the  waiting 
desert,  whence  come  the  prostrating  winds  of  Jehovah’s  judgment.  In  the  deep  chasm  to 
the  east  is  the  Plain  of  Jordan,  haunted  by  the  sinister  memories  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah. 
Among  the  silences  of  this  watchtower  the  prophet  heard  the  voice  of  Jehovah  announcing 
doom  on  recreant  Israel. 


AMOS 


A  CRY  FOR  TRUTH  AND  RIGHT 

The  Call  of  Amos 

THEN  answered  Amos,  and  said  to  Amaziah,  “I  was  no 
prophet,1  neither  was  I  a  prophet’s  son;  but  I  was  a 
herdsman,  and  a  gatherer  of  sycomore  fruit:  and  the 
Lord  took  me  as  I  followed  the  flock,  and  the  Lord  said  to 
me,  ‘Go,  prophesy  to  my  people  Israel.’” 

The  Prophet’s  Message 

Yet  destroyed  I  the  Amorite  before  them,  whose  height 
was  like  the  height  of  the  cedars,  and  he  was  strong  as  the 
oaks;  yet  I  destroyed  his  fruit  from  above,  and  his  roots 
from  beneath. 

Also  I  brought  you  up  from  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  led  you 
forty  years  through  the  wilderness,  to  possess  the  land  of  the 
Amorite.  And  I  raised  up  of  your  sons  for  prophets,  and  of 
your  young  men  for  Nazirites.  Is  it  not  even  thus,  O  ye  chil¬ 
dren  of  Israel?  saith  the  Lord.  But  ye  gave  the  Nazirites 
wine  to  drink;  and  commanded  the  prophets  saying,  “Proph¬ 
esy  not.” 

Therefore  the  flight  shall  perish  from  the  swift, 

And  the  strong  shall  not  strengthen  his  force, 

Neither  shall  the  mighty  deliver  himself: 

Neither  shall  he  stand  that  handleth  the  bow; 

And  he  that  is  swift  of  foot  shall  not  deliver  himself: 
Neither  shall  he  that  rideth  the  horse  deliver  him¬ 
self. 

And  he  that  is  courageous  among  the  mighty 
Shall  flee  away  naked  in  that  day,  saith  the  Lord. 


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The  Prophet  a  Revealer  of 
Divine  Secrets 

Can  two  walk  together,  except 
they  be  agreed?  Will  a  lion  roar 
in  the  forest,  when  he  hath  no 
prey?  will  a  young  lion  cry  out  of 
his  den,  if  he  have  taken  nothing? 
Can  a  bird  fall  in  a  snare  upon  the 
earth,  where  no  gin  is  for  him? 
shall  one  take  up  a  snare  from  the 
earth,  and  have  taken  nothing  at 
all?  Shall  a  trumpet  be  blown  in 
the  city,  and  the  people  not  be 
afraid?  shall  there  be  evil  in  a  city, 
and  the  Lord  hath  not  done  it? 

Surely  the  Lord  God  will  do 
nothing,  but  he  revealeth  his  secret 
to  his  servants  the  prophets.  The 
lion  hath  roared:  who  will  not  fear? 
The  Lord  God  hath  spoken:  who 
can  but  prophesy? 

For  I  know  your  manifold  trans¬ 
gressions  and  your  mighty  sins,  ye 
that  afflict  the  just,  that  take  a 
bribe,  and  that  turn  aside  the  poor 
in  the  gate  from  their  right.  There- 


AMOS 

From  a  fresco  by  Sargent 

Amos  holds  the  emblems  of  his  trade,  a  long 
shepherd’s  crook  and  the  sling  made  of  braided  palm 
fiber  with  which  he  disciplines  his  sheep  and  scares 
away  their  enemies.  The  face  is  the  face  of  a  deter¬ 
mined  man  who  also  knows  suffering.  It  was  the 
fate  of  Amos,  though  a  humble  man,  to  declare  the 
word  of  Jehovah  before  princes,  to  have  his  mes¬ 
sage  rejected  and  himself  to  suffer  violence  for  the 
truth’s  sake. 


©Curtis  &  Cameron 

AMOS 

From  a  fresco  by  Sargent 


AMOS 


9 


fore  the  prudent  shall  keep  silence  in  that  time;  for  it  is  an 
evil  time. 

The  virgin  of  Israel  is  fallen; 

She  shall  no  more  rise! 

She  is  forsaken  upon  her  land; 

There  is  none  to  raise  her  up. 

For  they  know  not  to  do  right,  saith  the  Lord,  who  store 
up  violence  and  robbery  in  their  palaces.  Therefore  thus  saith 
the  Lord  God,  An  adversary  there  shall  be  even  round  about 
the  land;  and  he  shall  bring  down  thy  strength  from  thee, 
and  thy  palaces  shall  be  spoiled.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  As  the 
shepherd  taketli  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  lion  two  legs,  or  a 
piece  of  an  ear;  so  shall  the  children  of  Israel  be  taken  out 
that  dwell  in  Samaria. 

Hear  ye,  and  testify  in  the  house  of  Jacob,  saith  the  Lord 
God,  the  God  of  hosts,  That,  in  the  day  that  I  shall  visit  the 
transgressions  of  Israel  upon  him,  I  will  also  visit  the  altars 
of  Beth-el2 :  and  the  horns  of  the  altar  shall  be  cut  off,  and  fall 
to  the  ground. 

And  I  will  smite  the  winter-house  with  the  summer-house; 
and  the  houses  of  ivory  shall  perish,  and  the  great  houses  shall 
have  an  end,  saith  the  Lord. 

Woe  unto  you  that  desire  the  day  of  the  Lord !  to  what  end 
is  it  for  you?  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  darkness,  and  not  light: 
as  if  a  man  did  flee  from  a  lion,  and  a  bear  met  him;  or  went 
into  the  house,  and  leaned  his  hand  on  the  wall,  and  a  serpent 
bit  him. 

Righteousness  Is  the  Acceptable  Offering 

Thus  saith  the  Lord  to  the  house  of  Israel: 

Seek  ye  me,  and  ye  shall  live: 

But  seek  not  Beth-el, 

Nor  enter  into  Gilgal. 


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Seek  the  Lord,  and  ye  shall  live; 

Seek  him  that  maketh  the  Pleiades  and  Orion, 

And  turneth  the  shadow  of  death  into  morning, 
And  maketh  the  day  dark  with  night; 

That  calleth  for  the  waters  of  the  sea, 

And  poureth  them  out  upon  the  face  of  the  earth; 
The  Lord  is  his  name! 

I  hate,  I  despise  your  feasts, 

I  will  take  no  delight  in  your  solemn  assemblies. 


© Keystone  View  Co. 

THE  SYCOMORE  FIG 


Amos,  beside  being  a  shepherd,  was  a  dresser  of  sycomore  trees.  In  Amos’  day  these 
trees  were  abundant,  and  their  fruit  was  one  of  the  staple  foods  of  the  peasant.  Today, 
however,  sy comores  are  comparatively  scarce,  though  still  found  in  the  plains  about  Jericho 
and  along  the  seacoast.  These  sycomores  of  the  Bible  are  not  to  be  confused  with  the  American 
sycamore,  but  are  fig-bearing  trees  which  often  attain  great  size. 


AMOS 


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Though  ye  offer  me  your  burnt  offerings,  and  meal 
offerings, 

I  will  not  accept  them; 

Neither  will  I  regard  the  peace  offerings  of  your  fat 
beasts. 

Take  thou  away  from  me  the  noise  of  thy  songs, 

For  I  will  not  hear  the  melody  of  thy  viols. 

But  let  justice  run  down  like  waters, 

And  righteousness  as  a  mighty  stream. 

Seek  good,  and  not  evil,  that  ye  may  live:  and  so  the 
Lord,  the  God  of  hosts,  shall  be  with  you,  as  ye  have  spoken. 

The  Glad  Day  to  Come 

In  that  day  will  I  raise  up  the  tabernacle  of  David  that  is 
fallen,  and  close  up  the  breaches  thereof;  I  will  raise  up  his 
ruins,  and  I  will  build  it  as  in  the  days  of  old:  that  they  may 
possess  the  remnant  of  Edom,  and  of  all  the  heathen,  which 
are  called  by  my  name,  saitli  the  Lord  that  doeth  this. 

Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord,  that  the  plowman 
shall  overtake  the  reaper,  and  the  treader  of  grapes  him  that 
soweth  seed;  and  the  mountains  shall  drop  sweet  wine,  and 
all  the  hills  shall  melt.  And  I  will  bring  again  the  captivity 
of  my  people  Israel,  and  they  shall  build  the  waste  cities,  and 
inhabit  them;  and  they  shall  plant  vineyards,  and  drink  the 
wine  thereof;  they  shall  also  make  gardens,  and  eat  the  fruit 
of  them. 

And  I  will  plant  them  upon  their  land,  and  they  shall  no 
more  be  pulled  up  out  of  their  land  which  I  have  given  them, 
saith  the  Lord  thy  God. 


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HOSEA 


From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

This  figure  of  the  prophet  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  in  Sargent’s  cele¬ 
brated  frieze.  It  is  the  face  of  a  young  man  of  unusual  beauty,  a  face  that 

expresses  intellectual  and  spiritual  riches.  The  voluminous  garment  that  en¬ 
velops  the  form  and  the  deep  shadows  in  the  eyes  suggest  a  desire  on  the 
prophet’s  part  to  conceal  the  painful  experiences  through  which  he  was  com¬ 
pelled  to  pass,  and  which  he  revealed  to  his  fellow-men  only  because  they  were 

a  symbol  of  God’s  dealings  with  faithless  Israel.  He  taught  that  the  only  cure 
for  social  corruption  is  love — not  a  sentiment,  but  a  principle  of  action. 


HOSEA 

Greatest  Prophet  of  Redemptive  Love 

THE  men  who  have  given  the  world  her  truest  messages  of  con¬ 
solation,  of  illumination,  of  redemption,  have  been  “men  of  sorrows 
and  acquainted  with  grief.”  “O  Love  that  wilt  not  let  me  go,” 
sobbed  George  Matheson,  as  he  turned  from  a  love  that  did  relinquish  him, 
a  light  that  was  even  then  failing  him,  a  pain  that  was  harrowing  him,  a 
cross  that  was  slaying  him,  to  a  Love  that  never  lets  go,  a  Light  that  never 
fails,  a  Joy  that  triumphs  through  all  pain,  a  Cross  that  lifts  to  endless 
life,  and  so  gave  us  one  of  earth’s  sweetest  songs.  But  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  years  before  Christ  came  to  earth  as  the  living  emblem  of  God's 
eternal  love,  Hosea,  the  prophet  of  Israel,  by  experiences  far  sadder  than 
Matheson’s,  learned,  not  through  contrast  but  through  analogy,  of  a  love 
that  would  not  be  denied,  that  would  not  let  a  faithless  loved  one  go. 

How  cruel  was  the  sorrow  of  his  life!  To  take  to  one's  heart  and  home 
a  pure  and  beautiful  maiden,  only  to  find  her  slowly  turn  profligate;  to 
plead  and  woo  in  vain,  when  one  might  justly  scorn  and  reject;  to  be  openly 
abandoned  for  the  sake  of  unworthy  rivals;  to  call  for  her  returning,  again 
and  again,  and  receive  no  answer;  to  find  her  reduced  at  last  to  the  lowest 
depths  of  shame,  and  offered  in  public  sale;  then  in  anguish  of  heart  to  buy 
her  at  the  price  of  a  common  slave,  take  her  home  again,  hold  her  till  she 
begins  at  last  to  trust  the  love  she  has  so  woefully  violated,  and  thus  to 
restore  her  to  the  wifehood  she  need  never  have  sullied;  all  this  constituted 
the  victory  of  Hosea  over  the  tragedy  of  violated  love. 

And  this  victory  became  doubly  victorious,  when  it  raised  him  to  a 
point  whence  he  could  see  the  infinitely  more  patient,  longsuffering,  re¬ 
deeming  love  of  Jehovah.  So  sublimely  sad  did  this  vision  of  the  enduring 
love  of  God  for  Israel  appear,  that  it  overshadowed  and  subordinated  all 
that  he  himself  had  endured.  With  beautiful  self-effacement,  despising 
his  own  shame  and  sorrow  in  the  light  of  the  greater  sadness  and  sorrow 
of  a  forsaken  God,  he  carried  his  pitiful  tragedy  before  the  people  and  com¬ 
pelled  them  to  gaze  upon  it  as  but  the  symbol  of  their  greatest  infidelity 
to  the  God  who  had  bound  Israel  unto  himself  in  an  eternal  wedlock  of  love. 

No  wonder,  then,  that  Hosea  is  the  first  prophet  to  demand  a  single 
standard  of  morality.  His  cry,  “How  shall  I  give  thee  up,  Ephraim?” 
gives  us  the  classic  expression  of  God’s  forgiving  love,  “broader  than  the 
measure  of  man’s  mind.”  He  became  the  first  prophet  of  repentance, 
anticipating  the  Prodigal  Son  in  his  appeal  to  the  Prodigal  Nation.  No 
wonder  Hosea  stands  as  the  greatest  Old  Testament  exponent  of  the  re¬ 
deeming  love  of  God!  Gethsemane  and  Calvary  must  ever  precede  our 
resurrection  unto  eternal  life  and  love. 


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HOSEA 


ISR  AEL’S  RETURN 

ISRAEL 

WE  will  not  any  more  say  to  the 
work  of  our  hands, 

“Ye  are  our  gods5’; 

For  in  thee  the  fatherless  findeth  mercy. 

JEHOVAH 

I  will  heal  their  backsliding, 

I  will  love  them  freely: 

For  mine  anger  is  turned  away  from  them. 
I  will  be  as  the  dew  to  Israel; 

He  shall  grow  as  the  lily, 

And  cast  forth  his  roots  as  Lebanon; 

His  branches  shall  spread, 

And  his  beauty  shall  be  as  the  olive  tree, 
And  his  fragrance  like  Lebanon. 

They  that  dwell  under  his  shadow  shall 
return ; 

They  shall  revive  as  the  grain, 

And  grow  like  the  vine; 

And  the  fragrance  thereof  shall  be  as 
the  wine  of  Lebanon. 

ISRAEL 

What  have  I  to  do  any  more  with  idols? 

JEHOVAH 

I  have  spoken  for  him,  and  I  will  take 
care  of  him. 


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ISRAEL 

I  am  like  an  evergreen  fir — 

JEHOVAH 

From  me  is  thy  fruit  found.3 

AN  UNGRATEFUL  NATION 

When  Israel  was  a  child,  then  I  loved  him, 
And  called  my  son  out  of  Egypt. 

I  taught  Ephraim  also  to  walk, 

Taking  them  by  their  arms; 

But  they  knew  not  that  I  healed  them. 

How  shall  I  give  thee  up,  Ephraim? 

How  shall  I  cast  thee  off,  Israel? 

My  heart  is  stirred  within  me; 

My  sympathies  are  kindled  together. 

Ephraim  feedeth  on  wind, 

And  followeth  after  the  east  wind. 

He  daily  increaseth  lies  and  desolation ; 

And  they  make  a  covenant  with  Assyria, 
And  oil  is  carried  into  Egypt. 

The  Lord  hath  also  a  controversy  with 
Judah, 

And  will  punish  Jacob  according  to  his 
ways: 

According  to  his  doings  will  he  recom¬ 
pense  him. 

He  took  his  brother  by  the  heel, 

And  by  his  strength  he  had  power  with  God: 


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Yea,  he  had  power  over  the  angel,  and 
prevailed : 

He  wept,  and  made  supplication  to  iiim 
He  found  him  at  Beth-el, 

And  there  he  spoke  with  us, 

Even  the  Lord  God  of  hosts; 

Jehovah  is  his  memorial  name. 
Therefore  turn  thou  to  thy  God: 

Keep  mercy  and  judgment, 

And  wait  on  thy  God  continually. 

He  is  a  trafficker; 

The  balances  of  deceit  are  in  his  hand: 
He  loveth  to  oppress. 

Is  there  iniquity  in  Gilead? 

Surely  they  are  vanity: 

They  sacrifice  bullocks  in  Gilgal; 

Yea,  their  altars  are  as  heaps  in  the 
furrows  of  the  field. 

And  Jacob  fled  into  the  field  of  Aram, 
And  Israel  served  for  a  wife, 

And  for  a  wife  he  kept  sheep. 

And  by  a  prophet  the  Lord  brought 
Israel  out  of  Egypt, 

And  by  a  prophet  was  he  preserved. 
Ephraim  provoked  him  to  anger  most 
bitterly : 

Therefore  shall  his  blood  be  left  upon 
him, 

And  his  reproach  shall  his  Lord  return 
to  him. 

When  Ephraim  spoke,  there  was  trem¬ 
bling; 


HOSEA 


17 


He  exalted  himself  in  Israel; 

But  when  he  offended  in  Baal,  he  died. 

Yet  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God  from  the 
land  of  Egypt, 

And  thou  shalt  know  no  God  but  me: 

For  there  is  no  savior  beside  me. 

REDEEMING  LOVE 

Behold,  I  will  woo  her, 

And  I  will  speak  to  her  heart. 

And  I  will  give  her  vineyards  from  thence, 

And  the  valley  of  Achor  for  a  door  of  hope: 

And  she  shall  sing  there  as  in  the  days  of  her  youth, 
And  as  in  the  day  when  she  came  up  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt. 

She  shall  call  me  “my  husband”; 

And  I  will  betroth  thee  to  me  forever; 

Yea,  I  will  betroth  thee  to  me  in  righteousness, 

And  in  judgment,  and  in  lovingkindness,  and  in  mercies. 
I  will  even  betroth  thee  to  me  in  faithfulness; 

And  thou  shalt  know  the  Lord. 


ISAIAH 


“The  Uncrowned  King  Among  the  Prophets” 

WHETHER  we  study  him  for  the  completeness  and  balance  of 
his  personal  endowments  or  for  the  wonder  and  fulness  of  his 
call  to  prophecy,  whether  for  his  patriotism  and  statesman¬ 
ship  or  for  the  loftiness  and  range  of  his  prophetic  vision,  whether  for  his 
contribution  to  the  life  of  his  day  or  for  his  influence  upon  the  mind  of 
Christ, — from  whatever  angle,  Isaiah  holds  easily  the  place  of  preeminence 
among  the  prophets  of  Israel  and  Judah. 

We  know  little  of  his  family,  but  that  little  is  significant.  He  is  the 
son  of  Amoz,  a  citizen  of  Jerusalem,  whom  Jewish  tradition  regards  as  the 
brother  of  King  Amaziah.  If  that  tradition  be  true,  Isaiah  was  first  cousin 
to  Hezekiah.  But  whether  he  was  thus  related  to  the  royalty  of  his  day 
or  not,  it  is  very  certain  that  he  occupied  a  position  of  high  respect  and 
standing  in  Jerusalem  and  enjoyed  a  rare  freedom  of  intercourse  with  kings 
and  courtiers,  who  turned  to  him  again  and  again  for  counsel  and  direction. 

Moreover,  he  was  the  peer  of  all  his  contemporaries  in  personality  and 
powers.  The  other  prophets  of  Israel  are  notable  for  some  distinguishing 
personal  quality  or  achievement:  Elijah  for  his  flaming  zeal,  Elisha  for 
his  benevolent  disposition,  Amos  for  his  passion  for  justice,  Hosea  for  the 
tenderness  of  his  affection,  Jeremiah  for  his  psychological  insight;  and  so 
on.  Isaiah  is  distinguished  not  so  much  by  some  single  quality  as  by  the 
perfection  and  harmonious  blending  of  many  and  various  qualities  in  a 
high-minded,  symmetrical  and  well-poised  personality.  “In  him,”  says 
Ewald,  “are  combined  the  profoundest  prophetic  emotion  and  purest  feel¬ 
ing,  the  most  unwearied,  successful,  and  consistent  activity  amid  all  the 
confusions  and  changes  of  life,  and,  lastly,  true  poetic  ease  and  beauty  of 
style,  combined  with  force  and  irresistible  power.”  From  the  point  of  view 
of  pure  enjoyment,  to  read  the  Book  of  Isaiah  is  to  ramble  through  a  literary 
landscape  of  unalloyed  loveliness  and  charm. 

When  a  man  as  nobly  privileged  and  as  richly  gifted  as  this  one  is 
called  of  God  to  be  a  prophet,  we  expect  his  call  to  be  one  of  unusual  force 
and  richness.  And  in  Isaiah’s  case  we  are  not  disappointed.  With  won¬ 
derful  spiritual  insight  and  in  language  sublimely  beautiful,  Isaiah  has 
described  his  call  in  one  of  the  noblest  chapters  in  our  Bible.  It  hap¬ 
pened  in  the  year  that  the  good  King  Uzziah  died,  and  while  Isaiah  was  in 
the  sanctuary  praying  over  the  perilous  situation  of  his  beloved  country 
and  people.  Then  it  was  that  he  “saw  the  Lord.” 

The  vision  fittingly  clothed  itself  in  the  symbolism  of  the  Holy  of 
Holies.  The  mercy  seat  became  a  mighty  throne,  “high  and  lifted  up,” 

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ISAIAH 


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ISAIAH 


From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

Prophecy  has  now  turned  from  the  sinful  present  and  from  the  future  over¬ 
shadowed  by  judgment,  and  for  the  first  time  has  caught  the  vision  of  that  more 
distant  “Day  of  Jehovah”  when  Zion  shall  be  redeemed  and  the  ransomed 
of  the  Lord  shall  return  with  everlasting  joy  upon  their  heads.  This  assurance 
alone  is  ample  reward  for  Isaiah’s  lifelong  labors  for  his  people. 


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upon  which  in  unbearable  majesty  sat  the  God  of  Israel,  with  his  train 
filling  the  temple.  The  two  little  figures  of  beaten  gold  that  usually  over¬ 
arched  the  mercy  seat  transformed  themselves  into  living  seraphim  stand¬ 
ing  above  and  on  either  side  of  the  throne  of  God.  Each  one  had  six  wings: 
with  twain  they  covered  their  feet  in  token  of  reverence;  with  twain  they 
covered  their  faces  as  unable  to  look  upon  his  glory;  and  the  remaining  two 
they  held  in  outstretched  readiness,  to  fly  in  instantaneous  obedience  to 
his  every  command.  And  while  they  stood  about  the  throne,  they  kept 
singing  to  each  other  in  antiphonal  strains,  and  the  burden  of  their  song 
was  the  sovereign  holiness  of  God,  whose  glory  filled  the  whole  earth. 
“The  posts  of  the  door  moved  at  the  voice  of  him  that  cried”;  and  the 
house  was  filled  with  the  smoke  of  the  incense  of  living  praise. 

In  other  words,  Isaiah,  in  his  hour  of  darkness  and  perplexity,  sensed 
as  he  never  had  before,  through  the  familiar  symbols  of  the  sanctuary,  the 
reality,  the  holiness,  the  sovereign  sway  of  Israel’s  God;  and  in  that  vision 
he  found  living  faith,  and  life  mission,  and  power.  It  has  ever  been  so. 
In  time  of  soul  trouble  and  world  trouble  men  have  found  their  true  sal¬ 
vation  in  heightened  vision  of  God  and  in  truer  grasp  of  his  eternal  meaning 
for  the  life  of  man. 

In  the  white  light  of  that  vision  Isaiah  lived  and  labored  and  prophe¬ 
sied.  Over  against  the  holiness  of  God  he  ranged  the  arrogance,  the  cor¬ 
ruptions,  the  vices  of  Israel,  and  denounced  them  with  blasting  force.  An 
unrighteous  nation  could  have  no  fellowship  with  a  holy  God,  and,  persist¬ 
ing  in  her  sins,  would  go  down  to  inevitable  disaster  and  destruction.  Only 
a  faithful  remnant  would  survive  to  become  the  nucleus  of  a  new  Israel. 
To  the  sovereign  God  of  all  the  earth  he  pointed  as  the  true  salvation  of 
Israel.  Faith  in  him  was  the  supreme  necessity.  “In  quietness  and  con¬ 
fidence”  in  him  would  Israel  find  her  strength;  not  in  foreign  alliances 
which  were  but  indications  of  faithlessness  and  distrust.  The  apostasy 
of  Ahaz  served  but  to  enhance  his  own  faith  in  God,  and  he  broke  into  those 
glowing  Emmanuel  prophecies  predicting  the  sure  establishment  and  eter¬ 
nal  increase  of  God’s  government  and  peace  on  earth,  despite  the  faithless¬ 
ness  of  Israel  and  her  king,  for  “the  zeal  of  the  Lord  ”  himself  would  perform 
it.  In  the  midst  of  turmoil  and  warfare  he  announced  the  only  sure  basis 
of  world  peace,  namely  the  knowledge  of  the  will  of  God,  understood  and 
made  the  basis  of  all  national  and  international  life.  And  no  prophet  ever 
exceeded  him  in  the  fulness  and  splendor  of  his  Messianic  outlook. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  Jesus  drank  deeply  of  the  springs  of  Isaianic 
thought  and  vision,  as  he  traveled  the  road  of  Messianic  fulfilment  that  led 
to  the  eternal  wonder  of  the  Cross, 


ISAIAH 

From  a  f  resco  by  Michelangelo 


ISAIAH 


THE  CALL  OF  ISAIAH 

IN  the  year  that  king  Uzziah  died  I  saw  the  Lord  sitting 
upon  a  throne,  high  and  lifted  up,  and  his  train  filled  the 
temple.  Above  it  stood  the  seraphim:  each  one  had  six 
wings;  with  twain  he  covered  his  face,  and  with  twain  he 
covered  his  feet,  and  with  twain  he  did  fly.4 
And  one  cried  to  another,  and  said, 

“Holy,  holy,  holy,  is  the  Lord  of  hosts: 

The  whole  earth  is  full  of  his  glory.” 

And  the  posts  of  the  door  moved  at  the  voice  of  him  that 
cried,  and  the  house  was  filled  with  smoke.  Then  said  I, 
“Woe  is  me!  for  I  am  undone; 

Because  I  am  a  man  of  unclean  lips, 

And  I  dwell  in  the  midst  of  a  people  of  unclean  lips: 
For  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  King,  the  Lord  of 
hosts.” 

Then  flew  one  of  the  seraphim  to  me,  having  a  live  coal5 
in  his  hand,  which  he  had  taken  with  the  tongs  from  off  the 
altar:  and  he  laid  it  upon  my  mouth,  and  said, 

“Lo,  this  hath  touched  thy  lips; 

And  thine  iniquity  is  taken  away,  and  thy  sin 
purged.” 

Also  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying,  “Whom  shall  I 
send,  and  who  will  go  for  us?” 

Then  I  said,  “Here  am  I:  send  me.” 

THE  SONG  PARABLE  OF  THE  VINEYARD 

Now  will  I  sing  to  my  well-beloved 
A  song  of  my  beloved  touching  his  vineyard! 


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A  VINEYARD  ON  A  FRUITFUL  HILL 

The  rich  valleys  pictured  here,  though  not  Oriental,  illustrate  the  beauty  and  joy  of 
the  vineyard  of  the  prophet’s  vision,  “My  well-beloved  hath  a  vineyard  in  a  very  fruitful 
hill:  and  he  digged  it,  and  gathered  out  the  stones  thereof,  and  planted  it  with  the  choicest 
vines.”  The  vineyard  was  such  an  important  factor  in  the  life  of  Orientals  that  it  figures 
largely  in  their  speech  and  literature. 


ISAIAH 


23 


My  well-beloved  hath  a  vineyard 

In  a  very  fruitful  hill: 

And  he  digged  it,  and  gathered  out  the 
stones  thereof, 

And  planted  it  with  the  choicest  vines. 

He  built  a  tower  in  the  midst  of  it 

And  also  made  a  winepress  therein; 

And  he  looked  that  it  should  bring  forth 
grapes, 

But  it  brought  forth  wild  grapes. 

And  now,  O  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem 
and  men  of  Judah, 

Judge,  I  pray  you,  between  me  and  my 
vineyard ! 

What  could  have  been  done  more  to 
my  vineyard 

That  I  have  not  done  in  it? 

Wherefore,  when  I  looked  that  it  should 
bring  forth  grapes, 

Brought  it  forth  wild  grapes? 

And  now  I  will  tell  you 

What  I  will  do  to  my  vineyard: 

I  will  take  away  the  hedge  thereof, 

And  it  shall  be  eaten  up; 

I  will  break  down  the  wall  thereof, 

And  it  shall  be  trodden  down. 

I  will  lay  it  waste; 

It  shall  not  be  pruned,  nor  digged; 

And  there  shall  come  up  briers  and  thorns. 

I  will  also  command  the  clouds  that 
they  rain  no  rain  upon  it. 

For  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  of  hosts 
is  the  house  of  Israel, 


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And  the  men  of  Judah,  they  are  his 
pleasant  plantation. 

He  looked  for  justice,  but,  behold! — 
oppression ; 

For  righteousness,  but,  behold !—  a  cry. 

THE  KINGDOM  TO  COME 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days,  that  the  moun¬ 
tain  of  the  Lord’s  house  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the 
mountains,  and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills;  and  all  na¬ 
tions  shall  flow  to  it.  And  many  people  shall  go  and  say, 
“Come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  to 
the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob.  And  he  will  teach  us  of  his 
ways,  and  we  will  walk  in  his  paths:  for  out  of  Zion  shall  go 
forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem.” 

And  he  shall  judge  among  the  nations,  and  shall  rebuke 
many  people:  and  they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  plow¬ 
shares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks:  nation  shall  not 
lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any 
more. 

O  house  of  Jacob,  come  ye,  and  let  us  walk  in  the  light  of 
the  Lord. 

THE  KING  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  AND  PEACE 

For  unto  us  a  child  is  born, 

Unto  us  a  son  is  given: 

And  the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder: 

And  his  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Coun¬ 
selor, 

Mighty  God,  Everlasting  Father,  Prince  of  Peace. 

Of  the  increase  of  his  government 

And  of  peace  there  shall  be  no  end, 

Upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  upon  his  kingdom, 


PEACE 

From  a  'painting  by  William  Strutt 


ISAIAH 


25 


To  order  it,  and  to  establish  it  with  judgment, 

And  with  justice  from  henceforth  even  forever. 
The  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  will  perform  this. 

There  shall  come  forth  a  rod  out  of  the  stock  of 
Jesse, 

And  a  branch  shall  grow  out  of  his  roots : 

And  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  shall  rest  upon  him, 
The  spirit  of  wisdom  and  understanding, 

The  spirit  of  counsel  and  might, 

The  spirit  of  knowledge  and  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 
He  shall  be  of  quick  understanding  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord; 

He  shall  not  judge  after  the  sight  of  his  eyes, 
Neither  reprove  after  the  hearing  of  his  ears; 

But  with  righteousness  shall  he  judge  the  poor, 
And  with  equity  decide  for  the  meek  of  the  earth ; 
He  shall  smite  the  land  with  the  rod  of  his  mouth, 
And  with  the  breath  of  his  lips  shall  he  slay  the 
wicked. 

Righteousness  shall  be  the  girdle  of  his  loins, 

And  faithfulness  the  girdle  of  his  reins. 

Then  the  wolf  also  shall  dwell  with  the  lamb, 

And  the  leopard  shall  lie  down  with  the  kid; 

And  the  calf  and  the  young  lion  and  the  fatling 
together ; 

And  a  little  child  shall  lead  them. 

And  the  cow  and  the  bear  shall  feed; 

Their  young  ones  shall  lie  down  together; 

And  the  lion  shall  eat  straw  like  the  ox; 

And  the  nursing  child  shall  play  on  the  hole  of 
the  asp, 

And  the  weaned  child  shall  put  his  hand  on  the 
viper’s  nest. 


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They  shall  not  hurt  nor  destroy 
In  all  my  liolv  mountain; 

For  the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  Lord 

As  the  waters  cover  the  sea. 

And  in  that  day  there  shall  be  a  root  of  Jesse, 

Who  shall  stand  for  an  ensign  of  the  people; 

To  him  shall  the  Gentiles  seek; 

And  his  rest  shall  be  glorious. 

JERUSALEM  DELIVERED 

The  poet,  in  his  trust  that  God  will  relieve  the  city  from  its  foes,  pic 
tures  a  processional  about  to  enter  the  rebuilt  gates  after  its  deliverance. 

In  that  day  shall  this  song  be  sung  in  the  land  of  Judah 

We  have  a  strong  city; 

Salvation  will  God  appoint  for  walls  and 
bulwarks. 

Open  ye  the  gates, 

That  the  righteous  nation  that  keepeth  the 
truth  may  enter  in. 

Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose 
mind  is  stayed  on  thee, 

Because  he  trusteth  in  thee. 

Trust  ye  in  the  Lord  forever. 

For  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting 
strength. 


MICAH 


The  Peasant  Prophet  of  Moresheth-gath 

WHEN  we  remark  that  the  name  Micah  is  an  abbreviation  of  the 
word  Micaiah,  which  means  “who  is  like  Jehovah,”  that  he 
lived  in  Moresheth,  a  village  near  the  Philistine  coast  plain 
and  in  the  westernmost  section  of  the  territory  known  as  the  Shephelah, 
and  that  his  public  ministry  extended  in  all  likelihood  from  about  735  b.c. 
until  about  700  b.c.,  we  have  recorded  about  all  we  know  with  any  defi¬ 
niteness  of  the  personal  life  of  the  prophet  Micah. 

This  scarcity  of  biographical  detail  is,  however,  compensated  for  by  the 
self-revealing  quality  of  the  man’s  writings;  for  Micah  writes  not  only  with 
the  fervor  and  passion  of  a  true  patriot  and  religionist,  but  also  with  the 
tenderness  of  a  countryman  in  love  with  the  soil  and  feeling  deeply  the 
wrongs  of  the  humble  people  of  the  soil. 

With  unmistakable  clearness  and  definiteness  he  charges  Samaria 
and  Jerusalem,  the  capitals  respectively  of  North  and  South,  with  being  the 
centers  and  generators  of  crime  and  irreligion;  and  in  the  severest  terms 
he  predicts  the  utter  destruction  of  both,  not  callously,  but  with  an  aching 
heart;  for  Jerusalem  is  “the  gate  of  my  people,”  and  over  her  impending 
doom  he  would  “wail  and  howl,  and  go  stripped  and  naked:  wailing  like 
the  dragons  and  mourning  as  the  owls.” 

But  it  is  over  the  fate  of  the  little  country  places  that  he  grieves  most. 
He  can  discern  something  of  retributive  justice  in  the  approaching  doom  of 
Jerusalem;  but  no  such  thought  lightens  the  sadness  of  his  outlook  upon 
the  little  villages  about  him.  Not  only  were  they  already  enduring  the 
spoliations  of  the  wicked  and  powerful  rich  intrenched  in  Jerusalem,  but 
soon  they  would  fall  helplessly,  some  of  them  forever,  before  the  armies 
who  would  enter  Judah  through  those  western  valleys  to  capture  and  de¬ 
stroy.  Standing  by  his  own  little  home  in  Moresheth,6  a  thousand  feet 
above  sea  level,  he  looks  out  over  valleys  and  hillsides  before  him,  and 
visualizing  the  swift  advance  of  an  invading  host,  describes  their  relentless 
onrush,  naming  one  by  one  the  places  overrun,  and  playing  upon  their 
respective  names  in  affectionate  grief  as  he  announces  their  capture  and 
ruin. 

In  the  light  of  all  this,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  Micah  should 
have  predicted  the  rise  of  Israel's  longed-for  deliverer  and  king  from  among 
the  poor.  For,  like  his  great  contemporary  Isaiah,  Micah  was  no  mere 
pessimist  decrying  the  evils  of  the  present.  He  looked  beyond  them  to  the 
grander  future.  He  saw  clearly  that  no  true  deliverer  of  Israel  could  arise 
from  the  tyrannous  households  of  the  nobles  and  rulers.  Only  one  knowing 

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the  poverty  of  the  common  people  could  truly  deliver  them  and  justly 
reign  over  them.  From  Bethlehem  the  humble  must  he  arise;  not  from 
Jerusalem  the  oppressive.  “Thou,  Bethlehem  Ephrathah,  though  thou  be 
little  among  the  thousands  of  Judah,  yet  out  of  thee  shall  he  come  forth 
unto  me  that  is  to  be  ruler  in  Israel,  whose  goings  forth  have  been  from 
of  old,  from  everlasting.” 

And  this  prophet  has  given  the  world  the  finest  statement  of  ethical 
religion : 

“He  hath  showed  thee,  O  man,  what  is  good; 

And  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee, 

But  to  do  justly  and  to  love  mercy, 

And  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God?” 

And  the  reasonableness  of  these  requirements  he  has  set  forth  in  the  pre¬ 
ceding  verses,  in  a  plea  that  is  as  tender  and  as  persuasive  as  it  is  cogent 
and  true. 


MICAH 


29 


© Curtis  &  Cameron 


MICAH 


From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

The  prophet’s  face  is  hidden,  his  head  is  averted.  He  can  look  no  longer  at 
the  frightful  deeds  which  the  rulers  of  Israel  are  daily  committing  against  the 
humble  and  the  poor.  The  whole  literature  of  denunciation  offers  no  parallel 
to  the  scathing  eloquence  of  this  prophet  reformer.  Sprung  as  he  was  from  the 
common  people,  Micah  was  full  of  the  violence  of  the  revolutionist.  The  times 
were  ripe  for  upheaval,  and  it  was  his  fire  that  touched  off  the  train  of  reform. 


MICAH 


“THE  GREATEST  SAYING  OF  THE 
OLD  TESTAMENT” 

THE  QUESTION 

WHEREWITH  shall  I  come  before  the  Lord, 
And  bow  myself  before  the  high  God? 

Shall  I  come  before  him  with  burnt  offerings, 

With  calves  of  a  year  old? 

Will  the  Lord  be  pleased  with  thousands  of  rams, 

Or  with  ten  thousands  of  rivers  of  oil? 

Shall  I  give  my  first-born  for  my  transgression, 

The  fruit  of  my  body  for  the  sin  of  my  soul? 

THE  ANSWER 

He  hath  showed  thee,  0  man,  what  is  good; 

And  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee, 

But  to  do  justly,  and  to  love  mercy, 

And  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God? 

THE  NEED  FOR  MORAL  REGENERATION 

Hear,  all  ye  people;  hearken,  0  earth,  and  all  that  therein 
is:  and  let  the  Lord  God  be  witness  against  you,  the  Lord 
from  his  holy  temple.  For,  behold,  the  Lord  cometh  forth 
out  of  his  place,  and  will  come  down,  and  tread  upon  the 
high  places  of  the  earth.  And  the  mountains  shall  be  molten 
under  him,  and  the  valleys  shall  be  cleft,  as  wax  before  the 
fire,  and  as  the  waters  that  are  poured  down  a  steep  place. 

For  the  transgression  of  Jacob  is  all  this,  and  for  the  sins 
of  the  house  of  Israel.  What  is  the  transgression  of  Jacob? 
is  it  not  Samaria?  and  what  are  the  high  places  of  Judah?  are 

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MICAH 


31 


they  not  Jerusalem?  Therefore  I  will  make  Samaria  as  a 
heap  of  the  field,  and  as  plantings  of  a  vineyard:  and  I  will 
pour  down  the  stones  thereof  into  the  valley,  and  I  will  dis¬ 
cover  the  foundations  thereof.  And  all  the  graven  images 
thereof  shall  be  beaten  to  pieces,  and  all  the  hires  thereof  shall 
be  burned  with  the  fire,  and  all  the  idols  thereof  will  I  lay 
desolate. 


FALSE  AND  TRUE  PROPHETS 

Thus  saith  the  Lord  concerning  the  prophets 
that  make  my  people  to  err, 

That  bite  with  their  teeth  and  cry,  “Peace!'’ 

And  he  that  putteth  not  into  their  mouths, — 
They  even  proclaim  war  against  him. 

Therefore  it  shall  be  night  unto  you,  that  ye 
shall  not  have  a  vision; 

And  it  shall  be  dark  unto  you,  that  ye  shall  not 
divine; 

And  the  sun  shall  go  down  upon  the  prophets, 

And  the  day  shall  be  black  over  them. 

Then  shall  the  seers  be  ashamed, 

And  the  diviners  confounded: 

Yea,  they  shall  all  cover  their  lips; 

For  there  is  no  answer  of  God. 

But  as  for  me,  I  am  full  of  power  by  the  spirit  of 
the  Lord, 

And  of  judgment,  and  of  might, 

To  declare  to  Jacob  his  transgression, 

And  to  Israel  his  sin. 

THE  EXPLANATION  OF  GOD’S  JUDGMENTS 

The  voice  of  the  Lord  crieth  to  the  city, 

And  the  man  of  wisdom  will  fear  thy  name: 


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Hear  ye  the  rod, 

And  who  hath  appointed  it. 

Are  there  yet  treasures  of  wickedness  in  the  house 
of  the  wicked, 

And  a  scant  measure  that  is  abominable? 

Shall  I  be  pure  with  wicked  balances, 

And  with  a  bag  of  deceitful  weights? 

For  the  rich  men  thereof  are  full  of  violence, 

And  the  inhabitants  thereof  have  spoken  lies, 
And  their  tongue  is  deceitful  in  their  mouth. 
Therefore  I  also  have  smitten  thee  with  a  grievous 
wound ; 

I  have  made  thee  desolate  because  of  thy  sins. 
Thou  shalt  eat,  but  not  be  satisfied; 

And  thy  humiliation  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  thee: 
And  thou  shalt  put  away,  but  shaft  not  save; 
And  that  which  thou  savest  will  I  give  up  to  the 
sword. 

For  the  statutes  of  Omri  are  kept, 

And  all  the  works  of  the  house  of  Ahab, 

And  ye  walk  in  their  counsels; 

That  I  may  make  thee  a  desolation, 

And  the  inhabitants  thereof  a  hissing: 

And  ye  shall  bear  the  reproach  of  my  people. 


JEREMIAH 

Prophet  of  the  Soul 

NO  prophet’s  words  are  fuller  of  trembling  appeals  to  his  Lord  in 
the  face  of  hatred  and  misunderstanding  than  are  Jeremiah’s. 
No  seer  of  his  nation’s  fate  was  more  deeply  overcome  at  sight  of 
the  woes  that  it  was  his  mission  to  announce.  He  was  in  truth  a  man  of 
sorrows,  a  prophet  of  tears. 

Jeremiah  began  his  work  by  helping  in  the  reforms  of  Josiah,  a  young 
prophet  enthusiastically  serving  a  young  king.  But  after  the  king  was 
killed  in  his  foolish  insurrection  against  Pliaraoh-necho,  Jeremiah  lived 
on  to  see  the  reaction  under  Jehoiakim  and  the  exile  under  the  helpless 
Zedekiah.  He  was  swept  away  with  the  captives  into  Egypt;  and,  accord¬ 
ing  to  tradition,  was  finally  killed  by  his  ungrateful  countrymen. 

Of  all  the  Old  Testament  prophets,  Jeremiah  is  at  once  the  most 
pathetic  and  the  most  heroic.  His  was  that  rare  sensitiveness  of  soul 
that  could  not  help  but  suffer.  And  suffer  he  did,  through  a  long  and 
thankless  ministry  that  ended  in  exile  and  martyrdom. 

His  bitter  afflictions,  instead  of  crushing  him,  only  ennobled  him.  They 
brought  to  him,  moreover,  his  distinctive  message;  for  they  drove  him  to 
those  earnest  communings  with  God  where  alone  he  found  illumination 
and  rest,  till  religion,  for  him,  came  to  mean  the  soul’s  “inward  fellowship 
with  God.  ” 

That  insight  will  stand  as  Jeremiah’s  preeminent  contribution  to 
religious  life  and  thought.  Out  of  it  grew  his  doctrine  of  repentance  and 
regeneration;  for  he  believed  that  the  hardened  heart,  like  fallow  ground, 
must  be  plowed  and  harrowed  before  the  seeds  of  new  life  can  take  root 
and  flourish.  Out  of  it  grew  his  doctrine  of  “the  New  Covenant"  of  life 
that  Jehovah  was  some  day  to  make  with  Israel,  a  covenant  the  laws  of 
which  he  would  write,  not  upon  tables  of  stone,  but  upon  the  living  tablets 
of  human  hearts.  Out  of  it  came,  later,  a  new  appreciation  of  the  univer¬ 
sality  of  the  religion  of  Jehovah;  for  only  as  a  religion  becomes  truly  indi¬ 
vidual  can  it  become  universal. 

Jeremiah  was  born  probably  in  the  year  650  b.c.,  when  Manasseh, 
“the  apostate,”  was  still  on  the  throne.  His  home  was  in  Anathoth,  a 
town  about  three  and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  Jerusalem.  His  father, 
Hilkiah,  who  was  a  priest,  doubtless  early  turned  him  toward  Jehovah, 
despite  the  fact  that  it  was  from  among  the  followers  of  Jehovah,  chiefly, 
that  Manasseh  was  “shedding  much  innocent  blood.” 

When  he  was  twenty-four  years  old,  Jeremiah  received  his  “call." 
The  ecstasy  of  that  experience  he  never  forgot.  He  was  poet  as  well  as 

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prophet;  and  he  alone,  of  all  the  prophets,  associates  with  his  call  the 
mystic  influences  of  nature.  He  tells  us  that  it  was  while  the  almond 
trees  were  in  bloom  and  spring  breezes  were  laden  with  early  fragrances 
that  the  spirit  of  God  awakened  his  soul  to  its  sense  of  high  prophetic 
mission. 

But,  unlike  Isaiah  who  answered  readily,  “Here  am  I;  send  me,” 
Jeremiah  shrank  from  his  call  in  self-distrust,  pleading  his  youthfulness 
and  lack  of  experience.  Something  more  than  mystical  ecstasy  was  needed 
to  inflame  his  hesitant  soul.  And  that  something  was  afforded  to  him  in 
a  conviction,  a  tremendous  and  unshakable  conviction,  that  God  had 
predestined  him  to  the  work  of  prophecy.  Add  to  this  his  further  convic¬ 
tion  that  he  was  to  be  a  prophet  to  the  nations,  that  every  message  of  his 
to  Judah  would  involve  the  nations  round  about  her,  and  we  have,  lodged 
in  the  soul  of  a  single  man,  a  group  of  driving  forces  altogether  irresistible. 

The  sense  of  mission  generated  in  him  by  these  experiences  was  so 
intense  that  it  isolated  him,  and  turned  his  whole  life  to  tragedy.  It 
denied  to  him  the  sustaining  companionship  of  wife  and  children.  It 
pitted  against  him,  in  bitter  antagonism,  the  very  ones  for  whom  his 
heart  agonized,  and  for  whom  he  would  have  gladly  died;  and  it  drove 
him  pitilessly  to  the  task  of  exhorting  and  condemning  these  scornful 
and  rebellious  people. 

At  the  same  time,  this  sense  of  being  God-gripped  and  God-driven 
brought  with  it  its  own  exceeding  great  reward.  For,  unable  to  escape 
God,  he  flung  himself  upon  him  in  his  hours  of  weariness  and  despair, 
and  in  converse  with  him  found  satisfaction  and  rest.  This  transformed 
his  personal  timidity  into  moral  daring.  Ofttimes  when  in  despondency 
or  despair  he  might  have  remained  silent  and  proclaimed  the  Word  of  the 
Lord  no  more,  he  felt  that  Word  burning  in  his  soul  as  a  consuming  fire, 
till  it  compelled  him  to  break  his  silence  and  proclaim  it  anew.  It  devel¬ 
oped  in  him  an  overmastering  zeal  for  God,  and  charged  his  soul  with  a 
power  of  endurance  that  has  lifted  him  to  a  place  of  grandeur  among  the 
moral  heroes  of  the  world. 

These  personal  experiences  brought  to  Jeremiah  that  deeper  under¬ 
standing  of  the  human  heart  which  his  messages  so  clearly  disclose.  His 
calls  to  repentance  and  renewed  loyalty  to  God,  Judah  would  not  heed. 
How  could  she  be  so  indifferent  and  rebellious  toward  God?  Surely  only 
hardness  of  heart  could  account  for  it!  and  hardness  of  heart  was  not 
hers  by  nature,  as  her  history  attested.  She  had  acquired  it  through 
persistent  disregard  of  God.  Without  loyalty  of  heart,  the  laws  contained 
in  Israel’s  law  books  were  useless.  If  ever  God  restored  Israel,  he  must 
change  her  heart.  And  Jeremiah  felt  sure  that  he  would.  He  would  make 
a  new  covenant  with  her,  more  potent  than  the  old,  a  covenant  written 
upon  the  tables  of  her  heart.  Such  was  Jeremiah’s  hope  for  the  regenera¬ 
tion  of  Israel. 


JEREMIAH 


35 


Jeremiah  was  himself  the  living  ground  of  all  he  taught.  Well  might 
such  a  man  have  said  from  his  God-stricken  and  God-satisfied  soul: 
“Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee,  and  there  is  none  on  earth  that  I  desire 
beside  thee.  My  heart  and  my  flesh  fail  me,  but  God  is  the  strength 
of  my  life  and  my  portion  forever.” 


JEREMIAH  AT  THE  FALL  OF  JERUSALEM 

From  a  'painting  by  Edouard  Bendemann 

Here  we  see  that  awful  day  of  destruction  of  which  Jeremiah  had  so  often  warned  his 
people.  The  Temple  is  in  smoking  ruins;  the  Ark  is  being  carried  off;  captives  are  urged  on 
under  the  lash;  King  Zedekiah  himself  is  tied  to  the  conqueror’s  chariot,  while  palm  branches 
are  strewn  in  the  victor’s  path  and  troops  sound  the  flourish  of  trumpets.  In  the  midst  of  all 
this  Jeremiah  sits  unmoved,  for  he  knows  that,  as  God’s  promised  punishment  was  inevitable, 
just  so  surely  will  his  redemption  of  Israel  come  to  pass.  He  sees  far  into  the  future,  and  trusts 
God. 


36  THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


JEREMIAH 

From  a  f  resco  by  Michelangelo 

The  prophet  has  preached  and  labored  in  vain.  All  his  tenderness,  his  tears,  his  plead¬ 
ings,  his  threatenings,  have  not  availed  to  avert  the  calamity  which  the  sins  of  Judah  and 
her  rulers  so  richly  deserve.  The  stroke  has  fallen;  the  city  is  laid  waste;  the  captives  have 
been  led  forth  to  their  long  exile.  Only  the  prophet  is  left  with  his  heavy  memories,  his 
unilluminated  sorrow.  How  truly  could  it  be  said  of  him,  “He  is  despised  and  rejected  of 
men;  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief.” 


JEREMIAH 


JEREMIAH’S  CALL 

THEN  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me,  saying: 

“Before  I  formed  thee,  I  knew  thee, 

And  before  thou  wast  born,  I  consecrated  thee.” 

Then  said  I: 

“Ah,  Lord  God! 

Behold,  I  cannot  speak; 

For  I  am  a  child.” 

But  the  Lord  said  to  me: 

“Say  not,  4 1  am  a  child'; 

For  thou  shalt  go  to  all  that  I  shall  send  thee, 

And  whatsoever  I  command  thee  thou  shalt  speak. 

Be  not  afraid  of  their  faces, 

For  I  am  with  thee  to  deliver  thee.” 

Then  the  Lord  put  forth  his  hand  and  touched  my  mouth, 
and  the  Lord  said  to  me: 

44 Behold,  I  have  put  words  in  thy  mouth; 

See,  I  have  this  day  set  thee  over  the  nations  and  king¬ 
doms, 

To  root  out,  and  to  pull  down,  and  to  destroy, 

And  to  throw  down,  and  to  build,  and  to  plant.” 

M  oreover,  the  word  of  the  Lord  also  came  to  me,  saying, 
“Jeremiah,  what  seest  thou?” 

And  I  said,  44 1  see  a  rod  of  an  almond  tree.” 

Then  the  Lord  said  to  me,  “Thou  hast  seen  well:  for  I 
will  hasten  my  word  to  perform  it. 

“Thou  therefore  gird  up  thy  loins,  and  rise,  and  speak  to 
them  all  that  I  command  thee:  be  not  dismayed  at  their  faces, 
lest  I  confound  thee  before  them.  For,  behold,  I  have  made 
thee  this  day  a  defenced  city,  and  an  iron  pillar,  and  brazen 


38 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


walls  against  the  whole  land,  against  the  kings  of  Judah, 
against  the  princes  thereof,  against  the  priests  thereof,  and 
against  the  people  of  the  land.  And  they  shall  fight  against 
thee;  but  they  shall  not  prevail  against  thee;  for  I  am  with 
thee,”  saith  the  Lord,  “to  deliver  thee.” 


©Underwood  &  Underwood 

ANATHOTII,  HOME  OF  JEREMIAH 

A  typical  Judean  village,  crowning  the  bare  summit  of  a  little  hill  on  the  edge  of  the 
wilderness.  How  strange  that  such  a  little  town  should  persist  for  so  many  centuries!  And 
how  strangely  real  the  life  of  the  prophet  becomes  as  one  looks  upon  the  fields  that  once 
were  his  property  and  the  misty  mountains  that  he  loved!  Here,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Scopus 
only  three  and  a  half  miles  from  Jerusalem,  the  priests  quietly  tilled  their  fields,  and  raised 
figs  and  olives.  Traces  of  this  cultivation  remain  today,  along  with  ruins  of  walls  and  foun¬ 
dations. 


JEREMIAH 


39 


JEREMIAH’S  CONFESSION 

O  Lord,  thou  knowest; 

Remember  me,  and  visit  me,  and  avenge 
me  of  my  persecutors; 

Take  me  not  away,  in  thy  longsuff ering : 

Know  that  for  thy  sake  I  have  suffered 
rebuke. 

Thy  words  were  found,  and  I  did  eat  them ; 

And  thy  word  was  to  me  the  joy  and 
rejoicing  of  my  heart: 

For  I  am  called  by  thy  name, 

0  Lord  God  of  hosts. 

I  sat  not  in  the  assemblv  of  them  that 
make  merry,  nor  rejoiced; 

I  sat  alone  because  of  thy  hand; 

For  thou  hast  filled  me  with  indignation. 

Why  is  my  pain  perpetual, 

And  my  wound  incurable,  which  refuseth 
to  be  healed? 

Wilt  thou  indeed  be  to  me  as  a  deceitful 
brook, 

As  waters  that  fail? 

Heal  me,  0  Lord,  and  I  shall  be  healed; 

Save  me,  and  I  shall  be  saved: 

For  thou  art  my  praise. 

Behold,  they  say  to  me, 

“Where  is  the  word  of  the  Lord?  let  it 
come  now.” 

As  for  me,  I  have  not  hastened  from 
being  a  shepherd  to  follow  thee; 

Neither  have  I  desired  the  woeful  day; 
thou  knowest  it: 

That  which  came  out  of  my  lips  was 
right  before  thee. 


40 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


Be  not  a  terror  to  me; 

Thou  art  my  hope  in  the  day  of  evil. 

JEREMIAH’S  MESSAGE  OF  HOPE 

'‘For,  lo,  the  days  come,”  saitli  the  Lord,  “that  I  will 
bring  again  the  captivity  of  my  people  Israel  and  Judah,” 
saith  the  Lord:  “and  I  will  cause  them  to  return  to  the  land 
that  I  gave  to  their  fathers,  and  they  shall  possess  it. 

“Behold,  I  will  gather  them  out  of  all  countries,  whither 
I  have  driven  them  in  mine  anger,  and  in  my  fury,  and  in 
great  wrath;  and  I  will  bring  them  again  to  this  place,  and 
I  will  cause  them  to  dwell  safely:  and  they  shall  be  my  people, 
and  I  will  be  their  God:  and  I  will  give  them  one  heart,  and 
one  way,  that  they  may  fear  me  forever,  for  the  good  of  them, 
and  of  their  children  after  them. 

“And  I  will  make  an  everlasting  covenant  with  them, 
that  I  will  not  turn  away  from  them,  to  do  them  good;  but 
I  will  put  my  fear  in  their  hearts,  that  they  shall  not  depart 
from  me. 

“I  will  restore  health  to  thee,  and  I  will  heal  thee  of  thy 
wounds,”  saith  the  Lord,  “because  they  called  thee  an  out¬ 
cast,  saying,  ‘This  is  Zion,  whom  no  man  seeketh  after.’ 

“Behold,  I  will  bring  again  the  captivity  of  Jacob’s  tents, 
and  have  mercy  on  his  dwelling  places;  and  the  city  shall  be 
builded  upon  her  own  heap,  and  the  palace  shall  remain  after 
the  manner  thereof.  And  out  of  them  shall  proceed  thanks¬ 
giving  and  the  voice  of  them  that  make  merry:  and  I  will 
multiply  them,  and  they  shall  not  be  few;  I  will  also  glorify 
them,  and  they  shall  not  be  small.  Their  children  also  shall 
be  as  aforetime,  and  their  congregation  shall  be  established 
before  me,  and  I  will  punish  all  that  oppress  them. 

“And  their  prince  shall  be  of  themselves,  and  their  ruler 
shall  proceed  from  the  midst  of  them;  and  I  will  cause  him 
to  draw  near,  and  he  shall  approach  me:  for  who  is  he  that 


JEREMIAH 


41 


hath  had  boldness  to  approach 
me?"  saith  the  Lord.  “And  ye 
shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will 
be  your  God. 

“And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
when  ye  be  multiplied  and  in¬ 
creased  in  the  land,  in  those 
days,”  saith  the  Lord,  “they 
shall  say  no  more,  'The  ark  of 
the  covenant  of  the  Lord’:  nei¬ 
ther  shall  it  come  to  mind;  nei¬ 
ther  shall  they  remember  it; 
neither  shall  they  visit  it;  nei¬ 
ther  shall  that  be  done  any  more. 

“At  that  time  they  shall  call 
Jerusalem  the  throne  of  the 
Lord;  and  all  the  nations  shall 
be  gathered  to  it,  to  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  to  Jerusalem:  neither 
shall  they  walk  any  more  after 
the  imagination  of  their  evil 
heart.  In  those  days  the  house 
of  Judah  shall  walk  with  the 
house  of  Israel,  and  they  shall 
come  together  out  of  the  land 
of  the  North  to  the  land  that  I 
have  given  for  an  inheritance  to 
your  fathers. 

“In  those  days,  and  at  that 
time,  will  I  cause  the  branch  of 
righteousness  to  grow  up  unto 
David;  and  he  shall  execute 
judgment  and  righteousness  in 
the  land.  In  those  days  shall 
Judah  be  saved,  and  Jerusalem 


©Curtis  &  Cameron 

JEREMIAH 

From  a  f  resco  by  Sargent 

The  prophet  of  desolation.  The  poise 
of  the  head  and  the  arrangement  of  the 
locks  almost  suggest  the  poet  Dante,  of 
whom  in  his  exile  the  children  used  to 
say,  “See  the  man  who  has  been  in 
hell!”  So,  here,  Jeremiah  is  pictured  as 
having  descended  into  the  depths  of 
suffering  while  his  beloved  city  perished 
beneath  the  sword  of  Nebuchadnezzar. 


42 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


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JEREMIAH 


43 


shall  dwell  safely:  and  this  is  the  name  wherewith  she  shall 
be  called,  The  Lord  Our  Righteousness.” 

JEREMIAH’S  LIFE-MESSAGE 

We  do  not  know  when  Jeremiah  spoke  this  oracle  that  follows.  It  was 
the  real  message  of  his  whole  life.  It  was  probably  uttered  many  times 
during  the  siege  and  captivity  of  Jerusalem.  We  may  feel  confident  that 
it  was  the  last  word  he  left  with  his  faithless  countrymen.  It  is  one  of  those 
great  sayings  that  are  true  for  all  time  and  among  all  nations. 

''Behold,  the  days  come,”  saith  the  Lord, 

"That  I  will  make  a  new  covenant  with  the  house 
of  Israel, 

And  with  the  house  of  Judah, 

Not  according  to  the  covenant  that  I  made  with 
their  fathers, 

In  the  day  that  I  took  them  by  the  hand 
To  bring  them  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt: 

Which  covenant  they  broke. 

But  this  shall  be  the  covenant  that  I  will  make 
With  the  house  of  Israel  after  those  days: 

I  will  put  my  law  in  their  inward  parts, 

And  write  it  in  their  hearts; 

I  will  be  their  God, 

And  they  shall  be  my  people. 

They  shall  teach  no  more  every  man  his  neighbor, 

And  every  man  his  brother,  saying: 

‘  Know  the  Lord  ’ : 

For  they  shall  all  know  me, 

From  the  least  of  them  to  the  greatest  of  them; 

For  I  will  forgive  their  iniquity, 

And  their  sin  will  I  remember  no  more.”7 


NAHUM 


Prophet  of  Retribution 

VENGEANCE  is  mine;  I  will  repay,  saitli  the  Lord/'  might 
well  have  been  the  text  of  the  prophet  Nahum.  Nineveh,  the 
capital  of  Assyria,  is  about  to  be  destroyed;  and  as  the  prophet 
envisions  the  process,  his  soul  runs  over  in  Vesuvian  streams  of  passionate 
hate  and  denunciation,  exultation  and  praise. 

And  well  he  might.  For  Assyria  had  irrecoverably  destroyed  Israel, 
and  ever  since  had  been  by  turns  a  menace  and  a  tyrant  to  Judah.  The 
Assyrian  empire  had  been  built  by  the  sword,  and  maintained  by  it. 
Toward  those  who  resisted  her  she  was  merciless.  She  shamed  their 
women  and  dashed  their  little  ones  to  pieces;  prisoners  taken  in  war  she 
ofttimes  impaled  upon  the  walls  of  her  cities  or  flayed  alive;  captive 
princes  and  dignitaries  she  frequently  hung  up  in  cages,  and  many  times 
had  destroyed  the  identity  of  whole  peoples  by  deportations;  she  taunted 
her  victims  with  their  inferiority  and  the  powerlessness  of  their  gods,  and 
arrogantly  bade  them  transfer  their  loyalties  to  the  gods  of  Assyria;  till 
her  policy  of  terror  and  ruthlessness  made  her  the  most  dreaded  and 
deeply  hated  power  in  her  days. 

In  the  days  of  Hezekiah,  Sennacherib  had  ridiculed  Jerusalem’s  reliance 
upon  Jehovah;  but  Isaiah  championed  their  God,  and  the  city  was  wonder¬ 
fully  saved  from  capture.  But  Manasseh  upon  succeeding  to  the  throne 
had  virtually  dethroned  Jehovah.  The  gods  of  Assyria  were  permitted 
to  troop  in  and  establish  themselves  in  sanctuary,  high  place  and  house¬ 
top.  And  from  the  amount  of  blood  spilled,  it  would  seem  that  Manasseh 
took  on  also  the  Assyrian  policy  of  ruthlessness  in  dealing  with  all  who 
opposed  him. 

After  much  suffering  and  labor  and  waiting  on  the  part  of  the  faithful, 
a  sweeping  reformation  was  brought  about  in  the  reign  of  Josiah,  and  the 
gods  of  Assyria  were,  to  all  appearances,  driven  out  of  the  land. 

And  now  at  last,  Assyria,  grown  aged  and  set  upon  by  new  and  vigorous 
enemies,  has  been  driven  within  the  walls  of  Nineveh,  there  to  fight  her  final 
battle.  This  is  the  prospect  that  fires  the  soul  of  Nahum. 

As  Nineveh  has  been  merciless  in  the  past  unto  her  foes,  so  will  her 
enemies  now  be  merciless  unto  her.  She  will  be  utterly  destroyed, — 
destroyed  beyond  all  hope  of  recovery.  And  her  destruction  will  be  but 
the  vindication  of  the  righteousness  of  God,  who  “is  slow  to  anger,  and 
great  in  power,  and  will  not  at  all  acquit  the  wicked.” 

With  rare  dramatic  power  Nahum  describes  the  siege  and  destruction 
of  the  city;  does  it,  moreover,  with  the  fervidness  of  a  soul  on  fire  for  God. 


44 


NAHUM 


4  5 


We  see  it  all  enacted  before  us  as  the  grim  and  inevitable  conclusion  of  a 
long  tragedy  of  evil :  the  scarlet  sheen  of  the  besiegers,  the  flame-like  flash 
of  their  weapons,  the  rumble  and  rattle  of  chariots,  the  clattering  hoof- 
beats  of  horses,  the  cracking  of  whips,  the  shoutings  of  men,  the  melting 
fear  of  the  doomed,  the  relentless  surge  of  their  foes,  the  shock  and  slash 
of  the  conflict,  the  vain  speed  of  the  fleeing,  the  wreck  and  loot  of  the  city, 
and  the  dead  in  the  midst  of  her  ruins.  And  through  it  all  he  proclaims  this 
eternal  truth,- — - 

‘‘Penalty  for  persistent  wrong,  though  long  delayed, 

Is  sure  at  last.” 


© Curtis  &  Cameron 

NAHUM 


From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

The  prophet  is  here  astonished,  but  not  bereft  of  speech.  He  has  seen  a  marvel. 
The  great  city  of  Nineveh  has  fallen,  she  whose  power  reached  to  the  four  corners  of  the 
earth  and  whose  fame  ascended  to  heaven.  She  had  been  an  instrument  of  vengeance  in 
the  hand  of  Jehovah,  but  now  her  day  is  come  with  a  crash  that  shakes  the  world. 
Jehovah  has  thrown  her  down  from  her  lofty  seat.  Thus  the  eye  of  the  prophet  discerns 
the  hand  of  God  in  the  history  of  the  nations. 


NAHUM 


SIGNS  OF  GOD’S  POWER 

THE  Lord  is  slow  to  anger,  and  great  in  power,  and  will 
not  at  all  acquit  the  wicked:  the  Lord  hath  his  way  in 
the  whirlwind  and  in  the  storm,  and  the  clouds  are  the 
dust  of  his  feet.  He  rebuketh  the  sea,  and  maketh  it  dry,  and 
drieth  up  all  the  rivers:  Bashan  languisheth,  and  Carmel,  and 
the  flower  of  Lebanon  languisheth.  The  mountains  quake  at 
him,  and  the  hills  melt,  and  the  earth  is  burned  in  his  presence, 
yea,  the  world,  and  all  that  dwell  therein. 

The  Lord  is  good, 

A  stronghold  in  the  day  of  trouble; 

And  he  knoweth  them  that  trust  in  him. 

Behold  upon  the  mountains  the  feet  of  him 
That  bringeth  good  tidings, 

That  publisheth  peace! 

O  Judah,  keep  thy  solemn  feasts, 

Perform  thy  vows; 

For  the  wicked  shall  no  more  pass  through  thee: 

He  is  utterly  cut  off. 

THE  DOOM  OF  NINEVEH 

Woe  to  the  bloody  city! 

It  is  all  full  of  lies  and  robbery; 

The  prey  departeth  not. 

All  they  that  look  upon  thee  shall  flee  from  thee, 

And  say,  “ Nineveh  is  laid  waste”: 

Who  will  bemoan  her? 


* 


46 


NAHUM 


47 


Whence  shall  I  seek  comforters  for  thee? 

Art  thou  better  than  No-amon  [Thebes], 

That  was  situate  among  the  rivers, 

That  had  the  waters  round  about  her? 

(Ashurbanipal,  king  of  Nineveh,  had  taken  Thebes,  the  proud  Egyp¬ 
tian  capital,  about  sixty  years  before,  and  had  sacked  the  city  with  the 
usual  Assyrian  barbarity.) 

Ethiopia  and  Egypt  were  her  strength,  and  it  was  in¬ 
finite  ; 

Put  and  Lubim  [Libya]  were  thy  helpers. 

Yet  was  she  carried  away,  she  went  into  captivity; 

Her  young  children  also  were  dashed  in  pieces  at  the  head 
of  the  streets; 

And  they  cast  lots  for  her  honorable  men. 

Thou  also  shalt  be  drunken;  thou  shaft  be  hid; 

Thou  also  shalt  seek  a  stronghold  because  of  the  enemy. 
All  thy  fortresses  shall  be  like  fig  trees  with  the  first-ripe 
figs: 

If  they  be  shaken,  they  fall  into  the  mouth  of  the  eater. 

Behold,  the  people  in  the  midst  of  thee  are  women: 

The  gates  of  thy  land  shall  be  set  wide  open  unto  thine 
enemies : 

The  fire  hath  devoured  thy  bars. 

Thy  princes  are  as  the  locusts, 

And  thy  marshals  as  the  swarms  of  grasshoppers, 

Which  encamp  in  the  hedges  in  the  cold  day, 

But  when  the  sun  riseth  they  flee  away, 

And  their  place  is  not  known  where  they  are. 

All  that  hear  the  report  of  thee  clap  their  hands  over  thee; 
For  upon  whom  hath  not  thy  wickedness  passed  contin¬ 
ually? 


ZEPHANIAH 


Prophet  of  the  “Day  of  the  Lord” 

6 i  T'EHOVAH  will  not  do  good,  neither  will  lie  do  evil.”  What  a 
I  deadening  opinion  of  God!  And  what  a  depressing  commentary 
on  the  state  of  religion  in  Judah!  So  negative,  so  non-moral,  so 
inept  a  conception  of  God  consciously  held  by  any  people,  could  hardly 
result  in  anything  better  than  religious  sluggishness,  if  not  a  total  indif¬ 
ference.  For  how  could  any  one  ever  seriously  count  on  a  God  who  was 
so  morally  purposeless?  Why  should  any  sensible  people  ever  fear  him? 
Or  why  need  they  concern  themselves  about  him  at  all?  Such  seems  to  have 
been  the  logical  trend  of  affairs  in  Judah,  for  Zephaniah  describes  them  as 
a  people  who  had  “thickened  on  their  lees.” 

Now,  this  process  of  moral  and  religious  thickening  had  been  going  on 
in  Judah  for  a  long  time.  The  short-lived  reformation  of  Hezekiah  had 
been  followed  by  a  national  reaction  toward  all  manner  of  evils  and  pol¬ 
lutions.  Manasseh,  the  king,  had  himself  led  the  way,  and  in  “dead 
earnest.” 

Manasseh  introduced  into  Judah,  for  the  first  time  in  her  history,  the 
abominations  that  had  polluted  the  sanctuaries  of  the  North;  for  not  only 
did  he  restore  the  high  places  which  had  been  destroyed  by  his  father,  but 
he  erected  altars  to  the  licentious  worship  of  Baal  and  Astarte.  More 
than  that,  he  built  in  the  Valley  of  Hinnom  an  altar  to  Molech,  the  crudest 
of  all  gods,  and  there  caused  his  own  son  to  pass  through  the  fire.  He  wel¬ 
comed  into  his  kingdom  the  Assyrian  forms  of  stellar  worship,  and  within 
the  very  courts  of  the  Temple  itself  built  altars  to  the  “hosts  of  heaven.” 
The  effect  of  this  was  inevitable  and  widespread.  The  eternal  impressive¬ 
ness  of  the  starry  heavens  captured  the  imagination  of  the  people.  High 
places  and  housetops  everywhere  became  sacred  places  for  the  observation 
and  worship  of  the  stars. 

To  all  these  evils  Manasseh  added  the  stern  Assyrian  policy  of  the 
rigorous  use  of  force.  Jehovah  was  virtually,  if  not  actually,  deposed  in 
favor  of  foreign  gods;  and  the  followers  of  Jehovah  were  mercilessly  dealt 
with  whenever  they  dared  to  raise  their  voices  in  dissent.  Manasseh  shed 
more  innocent  blood  than  had  ever  been  shed  before. 

Place  before  all  of  this  the  fearful  shock  to  religious  faith  that  the  de¬ 
struction  of  Israel  by  pagan  Assyria  had  brought,  and  add  to  that  the  fact 
that  Judah  ever  since  had  been  feeling  the  steady  encroachment  upon 
her  own  territory  and  life  of  that  same  dreaded  power,  and  we  have  before 
us  in  brief  that  combination  and  sequence  of  adverse  experiences  that 
through  the  years  had  been  steadily  quenching  Judah’s  faith  in  her  God. 


48 


ZEPHANIAH 


49 


The  brief  reign  of  Amon  had  succeeded  that  of  Manasseh;  and  now  the 
forces  of  Jehovah  were  again  in  power  through  their  control  of  the  training 
of  the  young  king  Josiah,  and  were  attempting  earnestly  to  restore  the 
worship  of  Jehovah  to  its  former  place  of  power  in  the  life  of  the  nation. 
But  the  people  had  become  apathetic  and  scornful.  “Jehovah  will  not 
do  good,”  said  they;  “neither  will  he  do  evil.” 

But  at  this  juncture,  the  Scythians  began  to  make  their  appearance 
in  the  far  North;  wild  and  mysterious  hordes,  the  very  rumor  of  whose 
approach  struck  terror  to  the  people  of  Judah.  This  shocked  them  out 
of  their  lethargy.  And  to  add  the  terrors  of  conscience  to  the  fear  of  the 
swift-moving  and  terrible  Scythians,  there  arose  Zephaniah,  the  great- 
great-grandson  of  Hezekiah,  with  his  terrible  predictions  of  a  day  of  doom 
soon  to  fall  upon  all  the  world. 

Zephaniah  held  much  the  same  position  of  dignity  and  rank  as  did 
Isaiah.  His  utterances  are  austere  and  grand  in  their  impressiveness,  but 
lack  the  poetic  beauty,  the  versatility,  the  religious  warmth,  and  the 
sympathy  of  Isaiah.  In  his  pronouncements  of  destruction  he  went  further 
than  Amos.  To  Amos,  the  “Day  of  the  Lord”  meant  a  day  of  doom  for 
Israel  only;  but  to  Zephaniah,  it  was  a  day  of  cataclysmic  doom  for  all  the 
earth,  both  man  and  nature.  In  this,  he  stands  out  as  the  first  of  the  apoc¬ 
alyptic  prophets. 


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© Curtis  &  Cameron 


ZEPHANIAH 

From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

Sorrow  and  perplexity  are  the  dominant  notes  of  this  portrait:  sorrow  over 
the  sins  of  Judah  the  idolatrous — worshiper  of  the  hosts  of  heaven  and  all  the 
false  gods  of  the  nations  round  about;  perplexity  over  the  message  that  he  must 
deliver,  over  the  reforms  that  he  must  enact  and  the  modes  of  speech  that  can 
best  convict  and  persuade  and  inspire.  Zephaniah  lived  in  the  darkest  days  of 
Israel’s  history,  before  the  reforms  of  Josiah. 


ZEPHANIAH 


THE  DAY  OF  WRATH 

THE  great  day  of  the  Lord  is  near; 

It  is  near  and  haste th  greatly. 

Hark!  the  voice  of  the  day  of  the  Lord; 

The  mighty  man  shall  cry  there  bitterly. 

That  day  is  a  day  of  wrath, 

A  day  of  trouble  and  distress, 

A  day  of  waste  and  desolation, 

A  day  of  darkness  and  gloominess, 

A  day  of  clouds  and  thick  darkness, 

A  day  of  the  trumpet  and  alarm, 

Against  the  fenced  cities, 

And  against  the  high  towers. 

And  I  will  bring  distress  upon  men, 

That  they  shall  walk  like  blind  men, 

Because  they  have  sinned  against  the  Lord. 

For  he  will  make  even  a  speedy  end 
Of  all  them  that  dwell  in  the  land. 

Gather  yourselves  together;  yea,  gather  together, 
O  nation  not  desired; 

Before  the  decree  bring  forth, 

Before  the  day  pass  as  the  chaff, 

Before  the  fierce  anger  of  the  Lord  come  upon  you, 
Before  the  day  of  the  Lord’s  anger  come  upon  you. 
Seek  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye  meek  of  the  earth, 

Who  have  kept  his  ordinances; 

Seek  righteousness,  seek  meekness: 

It  may  be  ye  shall  be  hid 
In  the  day  of  the  Lord’s  anger. 


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THE  HAPPIER  TIME 

Then  will  I  give  to  the  people  a  pure 
language, 

That  they  may  all  call  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord, 

To  serve  him  with  one  consent. 

From  beyond  the  rivers  of  Ethiopia, 
my  suppliants, 

Even  the  daughter  of  my  dispersed, 

Shall  bring  mine  offering. 

In  that  day  shalt  thou  not  be  ashamed 
for  all  thy  doings, 

Wherein  thou  hast  transgressed  against  me. 
For  then  I  will  take  away  out  of  the 
midst  of  thee 

Them  that  exult  in  thy  majesty, 

And  thou  shalt  no  more  be  haughty 
In  my  holy  mountain. 

I  will  also  leave  in  the  midst  of  thee 
An  afflicted  and  poor  people, 

And  they  shall  trust  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
The  remnant  of  Israel  shall  not  do  iniquity, 
Nor  speak  lies; 

Neither  shall  a  deceitful  tongue  be  found 
in  their  mouth: 

But  they  shall  feed  and  lie  down, 

And  no  one  shall  make  them  afraid. 

Sing,  O  daughter  of  Zion; 

Shout,  O  Israel ; 

Be  glad  and  exult  with  all  the  heart, 

O  daughter  of  Jerusalem. 

The  Lord  hath  taken  away  thy  judgments, 
He  hath  cast  out  thine  enemy: 


ZEPHANIAH 


53 


The  King  of  Israel,  even  the  Lord,  is  in 
the  midst  of  thee: 

Thou  shalt  not  see  evil  any  more. 

In  that  day  it  shall  be  said  to  Jerusalem, 

“Fear  thou  not”: 

And  to  Zion,  “Let  not  thy  hands  be  slack.” 

The  Lord  thy  God  in  the  midst  of  thee 
is  mighty, 

He  will  save. 

He  will  rejoice  over  thee  with  joy; 

He  will  be  silent  in  his  love, 

He  will  joy  over  thee  with  singing. 

I  will  gather  them  that  are  sorrowful  for  the  solemn 
assembly,  who  are  of  thee,  to  whom  the  reproach  of  it  was  a 
burden.  Behold,  at  that  time  I  will  undo  all  that  afflict  thee: 
and  I  will  save  her  that  halteth,  and  gather  her  that  was 
driven  out;  and  I  will  get  them  praise  and  fame  in  every 
land  where  they  have  been  put  to  shame. 

At  that  time  will  I  bring  you  again,  even  in  the  time  that 
I  gather  you :  for  I  will  make  you  a  name  and  a  praise  among 
all  people  of  the  earth,  when  I  turn  back  your  captivity  before 
your  eyes,  saith  the  Lord. 


HABAKKUK 


Questioner  of  the  Ways  of  God, 

Prophet  of  Faithfulness 

A  FASCINATING  bit  of  writing  is  this  little  Book  of  Habakkuk,  and 
in  several  respects  quite  unique.  Of  the  writer  we  know  noth- 
-  ing  save  that  his  name,  Habakkuk,  means  one  who  embraces 
or  clings,  or,  as  Luther  has  suggested,  one  who  holds  up  and  comforts  a 
weeping  one;  that  he  was  a  contemporary  of  the  great  Jeremiah,  and  like 
him  deeply  sensitive  under  wrong. 

And  though  the  book  is  called  prophecy,  it  bears  very  little  resem¬ 
blance  either  in  form  or  content  to  the  writings  of  the  other  prophets.  Or¬ 
dinarily  a  prophet  is  a  spokesman  for  God  unto  the  people,  a  questioner  in 
the  name  of  God,  and  a  rebuker  of  the  ways  of  men.  Habakkuk,  however, 
is  a  spokesman  for  the  people  unto  God,  a  questioner  of  the  ways  of  God 
with  men.  He  holds  dialogue  with  God  and  not  with  Israel. 

He  is  the  first  to  speculate  on  the  problem  of  the  successful  prevalence 
of  unmerited  injustice  and  evil,  and  to  question  the  adequacy  of  tradition¬ 
al  teaching  on  the  subject.  He  is  thus,  in  a  sense,  a  philosophical  pioneer 
among  the  prophets. 

Josiah,  the  good  king,  had  enforced  the  law;  the  people  had  accepted 
it,  and  in  obedience  to  it  had  reformed  their  ways.  Following  this  grand 
revival  had  come  twelve  years  of  happiness  and  prosperity  that  stand  forth 
as  the  noblest  period  in  Judah’s  history.  Josiah  was  himself  the  embodi¬ 
ment  of  the  virtues  he  taught,  a  strong,  patriotic,  and  high-minded  ruler. 
And  yet,  Josiah  had  been  slain  in  battle  while  fighting  in  an  honorable 
cause;  Israel  was  now  enduring  high-handed  injustice  and  tyranny;  and 
God,  seemingly,  was  allowing  it  all.  Right  there  lay  the  prophet’s  problem. 
Why  was  wrong  thus  allowed  to  prevail?  Why  was  the  law  brought  to 
naught  ? 

The  reply  that  the  Chaldeans  were  being  raised  up  to  avenge  the  wrong 
only  aggravated  the  problem;  for  were  not  the  Chaldeans  themselves  an 
exceedingly  wicked  people?  How,  then,  could  a  holy  God  suffer  their 
wicked  might  to  prevail,  and  use  them  as  an  avenging  force?  Manifestly 
there  was  something  radically  wrong.  He  could  not  himself  solve  the  prob¬ 
lem,  but  he  could  and  would  wait, — wait  in  patience  upon  his  watchtower 
to  see  what  the  Lord  would  say  to  him. 

And  the  Lord  promised  him  a  vision,  and  bade  him  wait  for  it.  And 
while  he  waited,  there  flashed  into  his  soul  this  bit  of  insight: 

“Behold,  his  [the  wicked’s]  soul  is  puffed  up;  it  is  not  upright  in  him: 
But  the  just  shall  live  by  his  faith.” 

54 


HABAKKUK 


55 


For  that  flash  of  insight  we  shall  forever  be  grateful  to  Habakkuk. 
The  road  of  unswerving  faithfulness  to  God  and  duty  is  the  road  that  leads 
through  doubt  to  light  and  peace. 

“The  just  shall  live  by  his  faith!”  What  a  mighty  statement!  And 
what  a  liberating  force  it  has  been  in  Christian  history!  Paul  used  it 
to  express  the  power  of  his  new-found  faith  in  Christ,  and  emancipated 
himself  and  early  Christianity  from  bondage  to  Judaism.  Luther  grasped 
it  anew  and  wrenched  himself  free  from  the  tyranny  of  Rome.  Wesley 
found  it  mighty  unto  the  assuring  and  deepening  of  the  soul’s  sense  of 
salvation  through  Christ.  Thoughtful  Christians  everywhere  find  it  the 
Magna  Chart  a  of  the  soul. 


©Curtis  &  Cameron 

HABAKKUK 

From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

The  prophet  is  here  watching  the  course  of  world  events  beyond  the  horizon  of  his 
nation.  He  sees  the  Chaldeans,  swift,  bitter,  terrible,  who  are  to  sweep  down  and  over¬ 
whelm  the  world.  The  world  in  general  deserves  this  inundation  of  punishment,  and  his 
beloved  nation  of  Judah  deserves  it  even  more,  for  Judah  has  sinned  against  great  light. 


HABAKKUK 


THE  MIGHTY  DELIVERER 

GOD  came  from  Teman, 

And  the  Holy  One  from  mount  Paran. 

His  glory  covered  the  heavens, 

And  the  earth  was  full  of  his  praise. 

His  brightness  was  as  the  light; 

And  he  had  rays  coming  forth  from  his  hands; 

And  there  was  the  hiding  of  his  power. 

Before  him  went  the  pestilence, 

And  burning  bolts  went  forth  at  his  feet. 

He  stood,  and  shook  the  earth; 

He  beheld,  and  drove  asunder  the  nations; 

And  the  everlasting  mountains  were  scattered; 

The  perpetual  hills  did  bow; 

His  ways  are  everlasting. 

Thou  didst  cleave  the  earth  with  rivers; 

The  mountains  saw  thee,  and  they  trembled; 

The  overflowing  of  water  passed  by; 

The  deep  uttered  its  voice, 

And  lifted  up  its  hands  on  high. 

The  sun  and  moon  stood  still  in  their  habitation; 
At  the  light  of  thine  arrows  they  went, 

And  at  the  shining  of  thy  glittering  spear. 

Thou  wentest  forth  for  the  salvation  of  thy  people, 
Even  for  salvation  with  thine  anointed. 

Thou  didst  walk  through  the  sea  with  thy  horses, 
Through  the  depth  of  great  waters. 


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HABAKKUK 


57 


Although  the  fig  tree  shall  not  blossom, 

Neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the  vines; 

And  the  labor  of  the  olive  shall  fail, 

And  the  fields  yield  no  food; 

And  the  flock  shall  be  cut  off  from  the  fold, 

And  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the  stalls; 

Yet  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord, 

I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  salvation. 

The  Lord  God  is  my  strength; 

He  will  make  my  feet  like  hinds’  feet, 

He  will  make  me  to  walk  upon  high  places. 

HABAKKUK'S  PRAYER 

Yet  though  the  fig  tree  should  no  burden  bear, 

Though  vines  delude  the  promise  of  the  year; 

Yet  though  the  olive  should  not  yield  her  oil, 

Nor  the  parched  glebe  reward  the  peasant’s  toil; 
Though  the  tired  ox  beneath  his  labors  fall. 

And  herds  in  millions  perish  from  the  stall; 

Yet  shall  my  grateful  strings 
Forever  praise  thy  name; 

Forever  thee  proclaim 

The  everlasting  God,  the  mighty  King  of  kings. 

—  William  Broome 


EZEKIEL 


Prophet  of  the  Great  Transition 

ELEVEN  years  after  the  first  group  of  captives  from  Judah  were 
.  carried  into  Babylonia  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  Jerusalem  was  com- 
'  pletely  destroyed  and  her  citizens  exiled.  The  event  was  appal¬ 
ling  and  resulted  in  the  dissolution  of  Judah  as  a  nation.  It  might  have 
resulted  in  the  total  loss  of  Judah’s  religion  also;  for  when  an  ancient 
nation  fell,  the  people  usually  threw  their  gods  “to  the  moles  and  the  bats,  ” 
and  transferred  their  loyalties  to  the  gods  of  their  conquerors. 

Jeremiah  had  in  a  measure  prepared  Judah  for  the  approaching  calam¬ 
ity  by  predicting  it.  He  had  also  spiritualized  the  people’s  thought  of 
God,  and  had  so  universalized  him  that  the  doings  of  other  nations  were 
interpreted  as  in  reality  directed  by  him.  Therefore,  Judah’s  captivity, 
instead  of  destroying  her  religious  beliefs,  transformed  and  strengthened 
them  in  a  way  that  has  enabled  her  to  preserve  her  distinctiveness  ever 
since. 

The  period  of  the  Babylonian  exile  was  thus,  in  reality,  a  period  of 
momentous  transitions.  It  turned  a  settled  people  into  world-wanderers, 
an  agricultural  people  into  a  race  of  merchants  and  tradesmen.  It  changed 
a  nation  into  a  religious  sect,  and  developed  a  literature  that  made  them 
a  people  of  a  Book,  administered  by  a  specialized  priesthood  through 
an  elaborate  legalistic  and  ceremonial  system. 

The  directing  mind  in  the  whole  situation  was  Ezekiel’s.  He  was  the 
son  of  a  priest  of  Jerusalem,  and  was  himself  trained  for  the  priesthood. 
He  was  carried  into  captivity  in  597  b.c.,  and  while  in  Babylonia  received 
his  call.  It  came  in  the  form  of  a  vision.  The  most  impressive  feature  of 
it  was  its  symbolism  of  the  absolute  sovereignty  and  spirituality  of  God. 
Called  to  be  a  messenger  to  the  people  in  exile,  he  combined  the  functions 
of  prophet  and  priest. 

As  prophet,  he  predicted  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  dwelt 
in  detail  upon  the  sins  that  made  her  destruction  inevitable.  After  the 
downfall  of  the  city  his  messages  turned  to  consolation  and  hope.  In 
keeping  with  his  conception  of  the  sovereignty  of  God,  he  interpreted 
all  history  in  the  light  of  God’s  ruling  providence.  It  was  for  the  honor 
of  God’s  name  that  Jerusalem  had  been  destroyed;  and  it  would  be  for 
the  honor  of  his  name  that  Judah  would  be  restored,  that  the  nations 
might  know  that  Jehovah  was  God.  Fearing  lest  his  people  should  be  lost 
in  despondency  and  the  overwhelming  influence  of  paganism,  he  became 
their  pastor,  ministering  to  them  individually  and  in  little  groups,  and 
developing  what  became  the  synagogue  system  of  Judaism, 

58 


EZEKIEL 


59 


As  priest,  he  felt  keenly  the  disciplinary  and  educational  value  of 
ritual  and  ceremony  in  the  nurture  and  advancement  of  religion.  Hence, 
he  emphasized  the  Sabbath  and  feast  days;  he  formulated  and  enforced 
laws  of  ceremonial  cleanness  and  separateness;  and,  in  preparation  for 
Judah's  return  to  Jerusalem,  he  worked  out  elaborate  plans  for  the  re¬ 
construction  of  the  city  and  the  rehabilitation  of  religion  there. 

He  was  prophet  and  priest,  educator  and  apocalyptist,  and  is  worthily 
described  as  “the  father  of  Judaism,”  and  “the  most  influential  of 
prophets.  ” 


VISION  OF  EZEKIEL 

From  a  painting  by  Paul  F.  Poole 

“And  I  looked,  and,  behold,  a  whirlwind  came  out  of  the  north,  a  great  cloud,  and  a 
fire  flashing  continually,  and  a  brightness  was  about  it,  and  out  of  the  midst  thereof  as 
the  color  of  amber,  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire.  Also  out  of  the  midst  thereof  came  the 
likeness  of  four  living  creatures.” 


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EZEKIEL 

From  a  f  resco  by  Michelangelo 

The  prophet  has  here  turned  from  the  roll  which  he  has  been  studying  to  follow  for  a 
moment  the  demonstrations  which  the  divine  messenger  is  giving.  One  can  imagine  that  the 
prophet  is  here  looking  at  the  plan  of  the  new  Jerusalem  traced  by  the  divine  finger  upon  the 
pedestal  beside  him.  The  plan  of  the  new  Temple  grows  before  him.  He  sees  the  orderly 
array  of  the  priests,  he  hears  the  chanting  of  the  choirs,  he  beholds  the  rising  clouds  of  in¬ 
cense  and  the  smoke  of  sacrifice.  Out  of  this  vision  Ezekiel  will  formulate  plans  by  which 
the  scattered  nation  of  Israel  shall  become  a  compact  and  zealous  church  of  Jehovah. 


EZEKIEL 


A  VISION  OF  GOD’S  GLORY 


Living  Creatures  Appear  in  the  Storm 


NOW  it  came  to  pass  in  the  thirtieth  year,  in  the  fourth 
month,  in  the  fifth  day  of  the  month,  as  I  was  among 
the  captives  by  the  river  Chebar,8  that  the  heavens 
were  opened,  and  I  saw  visions  of  God. 

And  I  looked,  and,  behold,  a  whirlwind  came  out  of  the 
north,  a  great  cloud,  and  a  fire  flashing  continually,  and  a 
brightness  was  about  it,  and  out  of  the  midst  thereof  as  the 
color  of  amber,  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire.9 

Also  out  of  the  midst  thereof  came  the  likeness  of  four  liv¬ 
ing  creatures.  And  this  was  their  appearance:  They  had  the 
likeness  of  a  man;  and  every  one  had  four  faces,  and  every  one 
had  four  wings.  And  their  feet  were  straight  feet;  and  the 
sole  of  their  feet  was  like  the  sole  of  a  calf’s  foot;  and  they 
sparkled  like  the  color  of  burnished  brass.  And  they  had  the 
hands  of  a  man  under  their  wings  on  their  four  sides ;  and  they 
four  had  their  faces  and  their  wings  thus:  Their  wings  were 
joined  one  to  another;  they  turned  not  when  they  went;  they 
went  every  one  straight  forward. 

As  for  the  likeness  of  their  faces,  they  four  had  the  face  of 
a  man;  and  the  face  of  a  lion,  on  the  right  side;  and  they 
four  had  the  face  of  an  ox,  on  the  left  side;  they  four  also  had 
the  face  of  an  eagle.  Thus  were  their  faces;  and  their  wings 
were  stretched  upward;  two  wings  of  every  one  were  joined 
one  to  another,  and  two  covered  their  bodies.  And  they  went 
every  one  straight  forward:  whither  the  spirit  was  to  go,  they 
went;  and  they  turned  not  when  they  went. 

As  for  the  likeness  of  the  living  creatures,  their  appearance 
was  like  burning  coals  of  fire,  like  the  appearance  of  torches: 

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THE  VISION  OF  EZEKIEL 

From  a  'painting  by  Raphael 

This  is  the  attempt  of  a  great  artist  to  visualize  that 
which  it  is  impossible  to  picture — the  glory  of  the 
omnipotent  God.  Ezekiel  describes  Jehovah  wholly  in 
symbols,  symbols  that  represent  strength,  swiftness, 
intelligence  and  majesty.  The  four  living  creatures  that 
embody  these  elements  are  the  ox,  the  eagle,  the  cherub, 
and  the  lion.  These  symbols  were  perpetuated  in  the 
New  Testament  by  the  writer  of  the  Book  of  Revelation, 
who,  like  Ezekiel,  conceived  of  them  as  the  attendants 
of  Divinity.  Early  in  the  Christian  centuries,  however, 
they  became  associated  with  the  writers  of  the  four 
Gospels,  so  that  throughout  Christian  history  they  have 
become  the  emblems  of  the  Evangelists,  those  inspired 
writers  through  whom  the  nature  of  God  and  his  Son 
has  been  most  clearly  revealed:  the  cherub,  or  man, 
for  Matthew,  the  lion  for  Mark,  the  ox  for  Luke,  and  the 
eagle  for  John. 

These  symbols  are  found  in  almost  every  church  of 
the  Old  World,  either  as  a  part  of  the  mosaic  decoration, 
carvings  on  pulpits  and  altars,  or  blazoned  on  the  windows. 


it  went  up  and  down 
among  the  living  crea¬ 
tures;  and  the  fire  was 
bright,  and  out  of  the 
fire  went  forth  light¬ 
ning.  And  the  living 
creatures  ran  and  re¬ 
turned  as  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  a  flash  of  light¬ 
ning. 

Now  as  I  beheld 
the  living  creatures, 
behold  one  wheel  upon 
the  earth  beside  the 
living  creatures,  for 
each  of  the  four  faces 
thereof.  The  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  wheels 
and  their  work  was 
like  the  color  of  a 
beryl:  and  they  four 
had  one  likeness;  and 
their  appearance  and 
their  work  was  as  it 
were  a  wheel  within 
a  wheel.  When  they 
went,  they  went  upon 
their  four  sides:  they 
turned  not  when  they 
went.  And  their  rims, 
they  were  so  high  that 
they  were  dreadful ; 
and  their  rims  were 
full  of  eyes10  round 
about.  And  when  the 


EZEKIEL 


63 


living  creatures  were  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  the  wheels 
were  lifted  up.  Whithersoever  the  spirit  was  to  go,  they 
went;  thither  was  the  spirit  to  go;  and  the  wheels  were  lifted 
up  beside  them:  for  the  spirit  of  the  living  creatures  was  in 
the  wheels. 

And  the  likeness  of  the  firmament  upon  the  heads  of  the 
living  creatures  was  like  the  color  of  the  terrible  ice  stretched 
forth  over  their  heads  above. 

When  they  went,  I  heard  the  noise  of  their  wings  like  the 
noise  of  great  waters,  like  the  voice  of  the  Almighty,  the  voice 
of  speech,  like  the  noise  of  a  host:  when  they  stood,  they  let 
down  their  wings.  And  there  was  a  voice  from  the  firmament 
that  was  over  their  heads. 

Above  the  firmament  that  was  over  their  heads  was  the 
likeness  of  a  throne,  as  the  appearance  of  a  sapphire  stone:  and 
upon  the  likeness  of  the  throne  was  a  likeness  as  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  a  man  upon  it  above.  And  I  saw  as  the  color  of  amber, 
as  the  appearance  of  fire  round  about  within  it,  from  the  ap¬ 
pearance  of  his  loins  even  upward;  and  from  the  appearance 
of  his  loins  even  downward,  I  saw  as  it  were  the  appearance 
of  fire,  and  it  had  brightness  round  about  him.  As  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  bow  that  is  in  the  cloud  in  the  day  of  rain,  so  was 
the  appearance  of  the  brightness  round  about.  This  was  the 
appearance  of  the  likeness  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord. 

Ezekiel  Receives  His  Message 

When  I  saw  it,  I  fell  upon  my  face,  and  I  heard  a  voice  of 
one  that  spoke. 

And  he  said  to  me,  “Son  of  man,  stand  upon  thy  feet,  and 
I  will  speak  to  thee.” 

Then  the  Spirit  entered  into  me  when  he  spoke  to  me,  and 
set  me  upon  my  feet;  and  I  heard  him  that  spoke  to  me. 

And  he  said  to  me:  “Son  of  man,  I  send  thee  to  the  chil¬ 
dren  of  Israel,  to  a  rebellious  nation,  that  have  rebelled  against 
me:  they  and  their  fathers  have  transgressed  against  me,  even 


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to  this  very  day.  For  they  are  impudent  children  and  stiff- 
hearted.  I  send  thee  to  them;  and  thou  shalt  say  to  them, 
‘Thus  saith  the  Lord.’  And  they,  whether  they  will  hear,  or 
whether  they  will  forbear  (for  they  are  a  rebellious  house), 

yet  shall  know  that 
there  hath  been  a 
prophet  among  them. 
And  thou,  son  of  man, 
be  not  afraid  of  them, 
neither  be  afraid  of 
their  words,  though 
briers  and  thorns  be 
with  thee,  and  thou 
dost  dwell  among  scor¬ 
pions  :  be  not  afraid 
of  their  words,  nor  be 
dismayed  at  their 
looks,  though  they  be 
a  rebellious  house. 
And  thou  shalt  speak 
my  words  to  them, 
whether  they  will 
hear,  or  whether  they 
will  forbear:  for  they 
are  most  rebellious. 

“But  thou,  son  of 
man,  hear  what  I  say 
to  thee:  be  not  thou 
rebellious  like  that  re¬ 
bellious  house:  open  thy  mouth,  and  eat  what  I  give  thee.” 

And  when  I  looked,  behold,  a  hand  was  sent  to  me;  and,  lo, 
a  roll  of  a  book  was  therein ;  and  he  spread  it  before  me :  and  it 
was  written  within  and  on  the  back;  and  there  were  written 
therein  lamentations,  and  mourning,  and  woe.  Moreover  he 
said  to  me,  “Son  of  man,  eat  what  thou  findest;  eat  this 


©Curtis  &  Cameron 

EZEKIEL 

From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

This  picture  suggests  that  the  prophet  is  here 
thinking  through  the  problems  of  his  nation,  in  the 
presence  of  Jehovah  and  under  his  inspiration. 


EZEKIEL 


65 


roll,  and  go,  speak  to  the  house  of  Israel.”  So  I  opened  my 
mouth,  and  he  made  me  eat  this  roll.  Then  did  I  eat  it;  and 
it  was  as  sweet  as  honey  in  my  mouth. 

Then  the  Spirit  took  me  up,  and  I  heard  behind  me  a  voice 
of  a  great  rushing,  saying,  “Blessed  be  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
from  his  place.”  I  heard  also  the  noise  of  the  wings  of  the 
living  creatures  that  touched  one  another,  and  the  noise  of  the 
wheels  beside  them,  a  noise  of  a  great  rushing. 

So  the  Spirit  lifted  me  up,  and  took  me  away,  and  I  went  in 
bitterness,  in  the  heat  of  my  spirit;  but  the  hand  of  the  Lord 
was  strong  upon  me.  Then  I  came  to  them  of  the  captivity  at 
Tel-abib,  that  dwelt  by  the  river  Chebar,  and  I  sat  where  they 
sat;  and  remained  there  dumfounded  among  them  seven  days. 

And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  seven  days  that  the  word 
of  the  Lord  came  to  me,  saying: 

“I  have  made  thee  a  watchman  to  the  house  of  Israel: 
therefore  hear  the  word  of  my  mouth,  and  give  them  warning 
from  me.  When  I  say  to  the  wicked,  ‘Thou  shalt  surely  die’; 
and  thou  givest  him  not  warning,  nor  speakest  to  warn  the 
wicked  from  his  wicked  way,  to  save  his  life;  the  same  wicked 
man  shall  die  in  his  iniquity;  but  his  blood  will  I  require  at  thy 
hand.  Yet  if  thou  warn  the  wicked,  and  he  turn  not  from 
his  wickedness,  nor  from  his  wicked  way,  he  shall  die  in  his 
iniquity;  but  thou  hast  delivered  thy  soul.” 

THE  SLOW  PROCESS  OF  RESTORATION 

False  prophets  were  trying  to  persuade  the  Jews  that  their  captivity 
would  be  short.  Ezekiel  knew  better. 

A  Vision  of  the  Scattering  of  the  Jews 

“And  thou,  son  of  man,  take  thee  a  sharp  knife,  take  thee  a 
barber’s  razor,  and  cause  it  to  pass  upon  thy  head  and  upon  thy 
beard:  then  take  thee  balances  to  weigh,  and  divide  the  hair. 
Thou  shalt  burn  with  fire  a  third  part  in  the  midst  of  the  city, 


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when  the  days  of  the  siege  are  fulfilled:  and  thou  shalt  take  a 
third  part,  and  smite  about  it  with  a  knife;  and  a  third  part 
thou  shalt  scatter  in  the  wind;  and  I  will  draw  out  a  sword 
after  them. 

“Thou  shalt  also  take  thereof  a  few  in  number,  and  bind 
them  in  thy  skirts.  Then  take  of  them  again,  and  cast  them 
into  the  midst  of  the  fire,  and  burn  them  in  the  fire;  for  thereof 
shall  a  fire  come  forth  into  all  the  house  of  Israel. 

“Then  thou  shalt  say  to  all  the  house  of  Israel,  ‘Thus  saith 
the  Lord  God :  This  is  Jerusalem.  A  third  part  of  thee  shall 
die  with  the  pestilence,  and  with  famine  shall  they  be  con¬ 
sumed  in  the  midst  of  thee;  and  a  third  part  shall  fall  by  the 
sword  round  about  thee;  and  I  will  scatter  a  third  part  into 
all  the  winds,  and  I  will  draw  out  a  sword  after  them.’  ” 

A  Vision  of  Israel’s  Exile,  Led  by  Their  Prince 

The  word  of  the  Lord  also  came  to  me,  saying:  “Son  of 
man,  prepare  thee  goods  for  removal,  and  remove  by  day  in 
their  sight;  and  thou  shalt  remove  from  thy  place  to  another 
place  in  their  sight.  And  thou  shalt  bring  forth  thy  goods  by 
day  in  their  sight,  as  goods  for  removal:  and  thou  shalt  go 
forth  at  even  in  their  sight,  as  they  that  go  forth  into  captivity. 
Dig  thou  through  the  wall  in  their  sight,  and  carry  out  thereby.11 
In  their  sight  shalt  thou  bear  it  upon  thy  shoulders,  and  carry 
it  forth  in  the  twilight.  Thou  shalt  cover  thy  face,  that  thou 
see  not  the  ground ;  for  I  have  set  thee  for  a  sign  to  the  house 
of  Israel.” 

And  I  did  so  as  I  was  commanded:  I  brought  forth  my 
goods  by  day,  as  goods  for  removal,  and  in  the  even  I  digged 
through  the  wall  with  my  hand;  I  brought  it  forth  in  the 
twilight,  and  I  bore  it  upon  my  shoulder  in  their  sight. 

In  the  morning  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  to  me,  saying: 
“Son  of  man,  hath  not  the  house  of  Israel,  the  rebellious 
house,  said  to  thee,  ‘What  doest  thou?’  Say  thou  to  them, 
‘Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  This  burden  concerneth  the  prince 


EZEKIEL 


67 


in  Jerusalem,  and  all  the  house  of  Israel  that  are  among  them.’ 
Say,  ‘I  am  your  sign:  like  as  I  have  done,  so  shall  it  be  done  to 
them:  they  shall  remove  and  go  into  captivity.  And  the  prince 
that  is  among  them  shall  bear  upon  his  shoulder  in  the  twi¬ 
light,  and  shall  go  forth;  they  shall  dig  through  the  wall  to 
carry  out  thereby;  he  shall  cover  his  face,  that  he  see  not  the 
ground  with  his  eyes.  My  net  also  will  I  spread  upon  him,  and 
he  shall  be  taken  in  my  snare :  and  I  will  bring  him  to  Babylon 
to  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans ;  yet  shall  he  not  see  it,  though  he 
shall  die  there.’  ”12 

And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me,  saying:  “Son  of 
man,  what  is  that  proverb  that  ye  have  in  the  land  of  Israel, 
saying, 

‘The  days  are  prolonged, 

And  every  vision  faileth’? 

Tell  them  therefore:  ‘Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  will  make 
this  proverb  to  cease,  and  they  shall  no  more  use  it  as  a  proverb 
in  Israel’;  but  say  to  them, 

‘The  days  are  at  hand, 

And  the  fulfilment  of  every  vision.’ 

For  there  shall  be  no  more  any  vain  vision  nor  flattering  divina¬ 
tion  in  the  house  of  Israel.  For  I  am  the  Lord:  I  will  speak, 
and  the  word  that  I  shall  speak  shall  come  to  pass;  it  shall  be 
no  more  prolonged.” 

The  Death  of  Ezekiel’s  Wife  Provides  a  Sign 

A  pathetic  incident  in  his  own  personal  life  gave  him  the  opportunity 
to  reveal  the  truth. 

Also  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me,  saying:  “Son  of 
man,  behold,  I  take  away  from  thee  the  desire  of  thine  eyes 
with  a  stroke:  yet  neither  shalt  thou  mourn  nor  weep,  neither 
shall  thy  tears  run  down.  Forbear  to  cry;  make  no  mourn¬ 
ing  for  the  dead;  bind  thy  turban  upon  thee,  and  put  on  thy 
shoes  upon  thy  feet,  and  cover  not  thy  lips,  and  eat  not  the 
bread  of  men.” 


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So  I  spoke  to  the  people  in  the  morning;  and  at  even  my 
wife  died;  and  I  did  in  the  morning  -as  I  was  commanded. 

And  the  people  said  to  me/4  Wilt  thou  not  tell  us  what  these 
things  are  to  us,  that  thou  doest?” 

Then  I  answered  them :  44  The  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me, 
saying,  4 Speak  to  the  house  of  Israel:  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
God:  Behold,  I  will  profane  my  sanctuary,  the  excellency  of 
your  strength,  the  desire  of  your  eyes,  and  that  which  your  soul 
pitieth;  and  your  sons  and  your  daughters  whom  ye  have  left 
behind  shall  fall  by  the  sword.  And  ye  shall  do  as  I  have  done: 
ye  shall  not  cover  your  lips,  nor  eat  the  bread  of  men;  and  your 
turbans  shall  be  upon  your  heads,  and  your  shoes  upon  your 
feet :  ye  shall  not  mourn  nor  weep ;  but  ye  shall  pine  away  for 
your  iniquities,  and  mourn  one  toward  another.  Thus  Ezekiel 
is  to  you  a  sign :  according  to  all  that  he  hath  done  shall  ye  do/  ” 

THE  DEATH  OF  EZEKIEL’S  WIFE 
She  is  mine, 

My  fair  white  lamb,  mine  only  one;  whilst  thou 
Hast  many  in  thy  calm  fold  on  the  hill 
Of  frankincense  and  myrrh,  Lord:  be  content 
To  lead  thy  flock  where  shining  waters  sleep, 

And  leave  the  poor  man  in  the  wilderness 
His  one  ewe  lamb! 

No  weak  tears 

May  fall  upon  the  sacred  fire;  no  sound 
Of  breaking  human  heart  may  mar  the  full 
Majestic  music  of  a  Prophet’s  voice, 

Speaking  to  all  the  ages  from  the  mount 
Of  cloud  and  vision. 

To  speak  for  God — with  such  strange  calm  as  God 
Can  give  to  dying  men,  or  men  with  hearts 
More  dark  than  death  could  make  them. 

By  my  ruined  home 

I  stand  to  speak  for  God,  and  stretch  my  hands, 

Emptied  of  their  sweet  treasure,  in  God’s  Name 
To  all  the  people. 


EZEKIEL 


61) 


And  when  at  length 

The  evening-time  of  my  long  day  shall  come, 

And  God  shall  give  me  leave  to  lay  aside 
The  prophet’s  mournful  mantle  for  the  robe 
Of  joy  and  light — when  at  his  gate  I  find 
An  everlasting  entrance,  there  my  love 
Shall  meet  me,  smiling. 

— H.  E.  Lewis 

EZEKIEL’S  IDEAL  HOLY  CITY 

The  prophecy  now  presents  an  elaborate  ideal  plan  for  reconstruct¬ 
ing  the  Holy  City,  with  greatly  enlarged  dimensions,  revised  and  purified 
worship,  a  renovated  and  reconsecrated  priesthood  and  a  reallotment  of 
the  twelve  tribes  in  the  land  of  Israel.  The  government  was  to  be  in 
the  hands  of  a  prince,  whose  chief  concern  was  to  be  for  the  purity  of  the 
sacred  ceremonies.  Instead  of  the  dry  Valley  of  the  Kidron  skirting  the 
temple  hill  was  to  be  a  flowing  stream  of  crystal  water.  This  is  one  of 
the  earliest  and  noblest  visions  of  an  ideal  commonwealth  to  be  found  in  all 
literature. 

The  Holy  City  Shall  Be  Served  by  Holy  Priests 

“The  priests  the  Levites,  the  sons  of  Zadok,13  that  kept  the 
charge  of  my  sanctuary  when  the  children  of  Israel  went  astray 
from  me,  they  shall  come  near  to  me  to  minister  to  me,  and 
they  shall  stand  before  me  to  offer  to  me  the  fat  and  the  blood,” 
saith  the  Lord  God.  “They  shall  enter  into  my  sanctuary,  and 
they  shall  come  near  to  my  table,  to  minister  to  me,  and  they 
shall  keep  my  charge. 

“And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  when  they  enter  in  at  the 
gates  of  the  inner  court,  they  shall  be  clothed  with  linen  gar¬ 
ments;  and  no  wool  shall  come  upon  them,  while  they  minister 
in  the  gates  of  the  inner  court,  and  within.  They  shall  have 
linen  turbans  upon  their  heads,  and  shall  have  linen  breeches 
upon  their  loins;  they  shall  not  gird  themselves  with  anything 
that  causeth  sweat.  And  when  they  go  forth  into  the  outer 
court,  even  into  the  outer  court  to  the  people,  they  shall  put  off 
their  garments  wherein  they  ministered,  and  lay  them  in  the 
holy  chambers,  and  they  shall  put  on  other  garments;  and  they 


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Gustave  Dore 


EZEKIEL  PROPHESYING 

shall  not  sanctify  the  people  with  their  garments.  “  Neither 
shall  they  shave  their  heads,  nor  suffer  their  locks  to  grow  long; 
they  shall  only  poll  their  heads.  Neither  shall  any  priests  drink 


EZEKIEL 


71 


wine,  when  they  enter  into  the  inner  court.  Neither  shall  they 
take  for  their  wives  a  widow,  nor  her  that  is  put  away;  but 
they  shall  take  maidens  of  the  lineage  of  the  house  of  Israel, 
or  a  widow  that  had  a  priest  before. 

“  And  they  shall  teach  my  people  the  difference  between  the 
holy  and  profane,  and  cause  them  to  discern  between  the  un¬ 
clean  and  the  clean.14  And  in  controversy  they  shall  stand  in 
judgment;  and  they  shall  judge  it  according  to  my  judgments: 
and  they  shall  keep  my  laws  and  my  statutes  in  all  mine  as¬ 
semblies;  and  they  shall  hallow  my  sabbaths.” 

Into  This  Purified  City  Shall  God  Reenter 

Afterward  he  brought  me  to  the  gate,  even  the  gate  that 
looketh  toward  the  east;  and,  behold,  the  glory  of  the  God  of 
Israel  came  from  the  way  of  the  east :  and  his  voice  was  like  a 
noise  of  many  waters:  and  the  earth  shone  with  his  glory.  And 
it  was  according  to  the  appearance  of  the  vision  which  I  saw, 
even  according  to  the  vision  that  I  saw  when  I  came  to  destroy 
the  city :  and  the  visions  were  like  the  vision  that  I  saw  by  the 
river  Chebar;  and  I  fell  upon  my  face. 

And  the  glory  of  the  Lord  came  into  the  house  by  the  way 
of  the  gate  whose  prospect  is  toward  the  east.  So  the  spirit 
took  me  up,  and  brought  me  into  the  inner  court;  and,  behold, 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the  house. 

And  I  heard  him  speaking  to  me  out  of  the  house;  and  the 
man  stood  by  me.  And  he  said  to  me,  “Son  of  man,  this  is  the 
place  of  my  throne  and  the  place  of  the  soles  of  my  feet,  where 
I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  the  children  of  Israel  forever. 

“Thou,  son  of  man,  show  the  house  to  the  house  of  Israel, 
that  they  may  be  ashamed  of  their  iniquities:  and  let  them 
measure  the  pattern.  And  if  they  be  ashamed  of  all  that  they 
have  done,  show  them  the  form  of  the  house,  and  the  fashion 
thereof,  and  the  goings  out  thereof,  and  the  comings  in  thereof, 
and  all  the  forms  thereof,  and  all  the  ordinances  thereof,  and 
all  the  forms  thereof,  and  all  the  laws  thereof;  and  write  it  in 


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their  sight,  that  they  may  keep  the  whole  form  thereof,  and  all 
the  ordinances  thereof,  and  do  them. 

“This  is  the  law  of  the  house:  Upon  the  top  of  the  moun¬ 
tain  the  whole  limit  thereof  round  about  shall  be  most  holy. 
Behold,  this  is  the  law  of  the  house.” 

Then  he  brought  me  back  the  way  of  the  gate  of  the  out¬ 
ward  sanctuary  which  looketh  toward  the  east;  and  it  was  shut. 

Then  said  the  Lord  to  me,  “This  gate  shall  be  shut;  it  shall 
not  be  opened,  and  no  man  shall  enter  in  by  it;  because  the 
Lord  the  God  of  Israel  hath  entered  in  by  it,  therefore  it  shall 
be  shut. 

“It  is  for  the  prince;  the  prince  shall  sit  in  it  to  eat  bread 
before  the  Lord. 

A  Vision  of  Sabbath  Keeping  in  the  Renewed 

Jerusalem 

“The  gate  of  the  inner  court  facing  the  east  shall  be  shut 
the  six  working  days;  but  on  the  sabbath  it  shall  be  opened, 
and  on  the  day  of  the  new  moon  it  shall  be  opened. 

“And  the  prince  shall  enter  by  the  way  of  the  porch  of  that 
gate  without,  and  shall  stand  by  the  post  of  the  gate,  and  the 
priests  shall  prepare  his  burnt  offering  and  his  peace  offerings, 
and  he  shall  worship  at  the  threshold  of  the  gate :  then  he  shall 
go  out;  but  the  gate  shall  not  be  shut  until  evening. 

“Likewise  the  people  of  the  land  shall  worship  at  the  door 
of  this  gate  before  the  Lord  on  the  sabbaths  and  on  the  new 
moons.” 

A  Vision  of  the  River  of  the  Waters  of  Life 

The  only  stream  that  is  actually  near  the  city  of  Jerusalem  is  the  Brook 
Kidron,  a  dreary,  dirty  little  brook,  dry  most  of  the  year,  which  flows  among 
cemeteries  down  into  the  desert.  But  in  the  prophet’s  vision  of  the  happy 
future,  it  becomes  a  river  of  waters  of  life,  copious  and  beautiful  from  its 
source  in  the  sanctuary,  and  giving  life  and  healing  wherever  its  waters  go. 

Afterward  he  brought  me  again  to  the  door  of  the  house; 
and,  behold,  waters  issued  out  from  under  the  threshold  of  the 


EZEKIEL 


73 


house  eastward,  for  the  front  of  the  house  faced  the  east;  and 
the  waters  came  down  from  under,  from  the  right  side  of  the 
house  at  the  south  side  of  the  altar.  Then  he  brought  me  out 
by  way  of  the  north  gate,  and  led  me  about  by  the  way  without 
to  the  outer  gate,  by  the  way  that  looketh  eastward;  and,  be¬ 
hold,  there  ran  out  waters  on  the  right  side.  When  the  man 
that  had  the  line  in  his  hand  went  forth  eastward,  he  measured 
a  thousand  cubits,  and  he  brought  me  through  the  waters;  the 
waters  were  to  the  ankles.  Again  he  measured  a  thousand,  and 
brought  me  through  the  waters;  the  waters  were  to  the  knees. 
Again  he  measured  a  thousand,  and  brought  me  through  the 
waters;  the  waters  were  to  the  loins.  Afterward  he  measured  a 
thousand ;  and  it  was  a  river  that  I  could  not  pass  over ;  for  the 
waters  were  risen,  waters  to  swim  in,  a  river  that  could  not  be 
passed  over.  And  he  said  to  me,  “Son  of  man,  hast  thou  seen 
this?” 

Then  he  brought  me,  and  caused  me  to  return  to  the  bank  of 
the  river.  Now  when  I  had  returned,  behold,  at  the  bank  of 
the  river  were  very  many  trees  on  the  one  side  and  on  the 
other.  Then  he  said  to  me:  “These  waters  issue  out  toward 
the  east  country,  and  go  down  into  the  desert,  and  go  into  the 
[Dead]  Sea;  which  being  brought  forth  into  the  sea,  the  waters 
shall  be  sweetened.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  every  thing 
that  liveth,  which  moveth,  whithersoever  the  rivers  shall 
come,  shall  live;  and  there  shall  be  a  very  great  multitude  of 
fish,  because  these  waters  shall  come  thither:  for  they  shall  be 
healed;  and  every  thing  shall  live  whither  the  river  cometh. 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  the  fishers  shall  stand  by  it: 
from  En-gedi  even  unto  En-eglaim  shall  be  a  place  to  spread 
forth  nets;  their  fish  shall  be  according  to  their  kinds,  as  the 
fish  of  the  great  sea,  exceeding  many.  But  the  miry  places 
thereof  and  the  marshes  thereof  shall  not  be  sweetened ;  they 
shall  be  given  to  salt.  And  by  the  river  upon  the  bank  there¬ 
of,  on  this  side  and  on  that  side,  shall  grow  all  trees  for  food, 
neither  shall  the  fruit  thereof  be  consumed;  it  shall  bring 


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EZEKIEL 


75 


forth  new  fruit  every  month,  because  the  waters  thereof  issued 
out  of  the  sanctuary;  and  the  fruit  thereof  shall  be  for  food, 
and  the  leaf  thereof  for  medicine. 

A  Vision  of  the  New  Kingdom 

“I  will  make  them  one  nation  in  the  land  upon  the  moun¬ 
tains  of  Israel ;  and  one  king  shall  be  king  to  them  all :  and  they 
shall  be  no  more  two  nations,  neither  shall  they  be  divided  into 
two  kingdoms  any  more  at  all:  neither  shall  they  defile  them¬ 
selves  any  more  with  their  idols,  nor  with  their  detestable 
things,  nor  with  any  of  their  transgressions:  but  I  will  save 
them  out  of  all  their  dwelling  places,  wherein  they  have  sinned, 
and  will  cleanse  them:  so  shall  they  be  my  people,  and  I  will 
be  their  God.  And  David  my  servant  shall  be  king  over  them; 
and  they  all  shall  have  one  shepherd:  they  shall  also  walk  in 
my  judgments,  and  observe  my  statutes,  and  do  them.  And 
they  shall  dwell  in  the  land  that  I  have  given  to  Jacob  my 
servant,  wherein  your  fathers  have  dwelt;  and  they  shall  dwell 
therein,  even  they,  and  their  children,  and  their  children’s 
children  forever:  and  my  servant  David  shall  be  their  prince 
forever. 

e 4 Moreover  I  will  make  a  covenant  of  peace  with  them;  it 
shall  be  an  everlasting  covenant  with  them:  and  I  will  place 
them,  and  multiply  them,  and  will  set  my  sanctuary  in  the 
midst  of  them  forevermore.  My  tabernacle  also  shall  be  with 
them:  yea,  I  will  be  their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people. 
And  the  heathen  shall  know  that  I  the  Lord  do  sanctify  Israel, 
when  my  sanctuary  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  them  forevermore.. 

A  Vision  of  the  Strangers  Who  Shall  Help 
Rebuild  the  Holy  City 

“  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  ye  shall  divide  the  land  by 
lot  for  an  inheritance  to  you  and  to  the  strangers  that  sojourn 
among  you,  who  shall  have  children  among  you.  And  they 
shall  be  to  you  as  the  home-born  among  the  children  of  Israel; 


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they  shall  have  inheritance  with  you  among  the  tribes  of 
Israel.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  in  whatsoever  tribe  the 
stranger  sojourneth  there  shall  ye  give  him  his  inheritance/ 5 
saith  the  Lord. 

“And  the  name  of  the  city  from  that  day  shall  be:  The 
Lord  Is  There.” 

THE  WATERS  FROM  THE  EASTERN  GATE 

“And,  behold,  waters  issued  out  from  under  the  threshold  of  the  house 
eastward .” 

East  the  forefront  of  habitations  holy 
Gleamed  to  Engedi,  shone  to  Eneglaim; 

Softly  thereout  and  from  thereunder  slowly 
Wandered  the  waters,  and  delayed,  and  came. 

Then  the  great  stream,  which,  having  seen,  he 
showeth, 

Hid  from  the  wise,  but  manifest  to  him, 

Flowed  and  arose,  as  when  Euphrates  floweth, 

Rose  from  the  ankles  till  a  man  might  swim. 

Even  with  so  soft  a  surge  and  an  increasing, 

Drunk  of  the  sand  and  thwarted  of  the  clod, 

Stilled,  and  astir,  and  checked,  and  never-ceasing, 

Spreadeth  the  great  wave  of  the  grace  of  God; 

Bears  to  the  marshes  and  the  bitter  places 
Healing  for  hurt,  and  for  their  poisons,  balm; 

Isle  after  isle  in  infinite  embraces 

Floods  and  enfolds  and  fringes  with  the  palm. 

— F.  W.  H.  Myers 


ISAIAH,  PROPHET  OF 
THE  MESSIAH 

In  later  Isaiah  are  the  great  prophecies  that  consoled  the  people  of 
Israel  during  their  exile.  The  keynote  of  the  entire  message  is  struck  in 
the  opening  words: 

“Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my  people,’’  saith  your  God. 

“Speak  ye  comfortingly  to  Jerusalem, 

And  cry  to  her  that  her  warfare  is  accomplished.” 

There  are  two  great  thoughts  in  this  “Evangelist  of  the  Old  Testa¬ 
ment.” 

The  first  is  the  thought  of  God.  He  is  “the  Holy  One  of  Israel.”  Pie 
is  the  only  God  who  exists,  the  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  the  God  of 
history  and  of  prophecy,  whose  purposes  are  infinite,  cannot  be  resisted, 
and  are  all  in  behalf  of  his  people.  Just  now  he  has  chosen  Cyrus  the 
Persian  as  his  shepherd  and  king  to  gather  his  scattered  flock,  and  to  ful¬ 
fil  his  pleasure  concerning  Jerusalem.  The  second  thought  is  of  the  Serv¬ 
ant  of  Jehovah.  The  kingdom  has  been  destroyed;  so  we  no  longer  read 
of  a  Davidic  king  to  prosper  Israel's  cause.  Now  God’s  will  is  to  be  done 
by  a  servant.  At  first  Israel  is  that  servant: 

“He  said  to  me:  ‘Thou  art  my  servant; 

O  Israel,  in  whom  I  will  be  glorified.’” 

Later,  Israel  seems  to  be  personified  in  an  individual,  the  Man  of  Sorrows, 
of  whose  travail  comes  an  infinite  satisfaction. 

It  is  a  book  of  shadow  and  sunshine,  a  book  of  redemption  and  glory, 
a  book  of  triumph  through  suffering. 


A  HYMN  OF  THE  HOLY  ONE  OF  ISRAEL 

‘/COMFORT  ye,  comfort  ye  my  people,”  saith  your  God, 
“  Speak  ye  comfortingly  to  Jerusalem, 

And  cry  to  her  that  her  warfare  is  accomplished, 

That  her  iniquity  is  pardoned; 

For  she  hath  received  of  the  Lord’s  hand 
Double  for  all  her  sins.” 

The  voice  of  him  that  crieth: 


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“ Prepare  ye  in  the  wilderness  the  way  of  the  Lord; 

Make  straight  in  the  desert  a  highway  for  our  God! 
Every  valley  shall  be  lifted  up, 

Every  mountain  and  hill  shall  be  made  low; 

The  crooked  shall  be  made  straight, 

The  rough  places  plain! 

The  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  revealed, 

And  all  flesh  shall  see  it  together; 

For  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.” 

the  voice  said,  Cry! 

And  he  said,  “What  shall  I  cry? 

All  flesh  is  grass, 

And  all  the  goodliness  thereof  is  as  the  flower  of  the  field. 
The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth, 

Because  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  bloweth  upon  it. 

Surely  the  people  is  grass. 

The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth, 

But  the  word  of  our  God  shall  stand  forever.” 

O  Zion,  that  bringest  good  tidings, 

Get  thee  up  into  the  high  mountain! 

O  Jerusalem,  that  bringest  good  tidings, 

Lift  up  thy  voice  with  strength! 

Lift  it  up,  be  not  afraid! 

Say  to  the  cities  of  Judah: 

“Behold  your  God! 

Behold,  the  Lord  God  will  come  with  strong  hand, 

And  his  arm  shall  rule  for  him; 

Behold,  his  reward  is  with  him, 

And  his  work  before  him. 

He  shall  feed  his  flock  like  a  shepherd: 

He  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm, 

And  carry  them  in  his  bosom, 

And  shall  gently  lead  those  that  have  their  young.” 


ISAIAH,  PROPHET  OF  THE  MESSIAH 


79 


Who  hath  measured  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand, 
And  meted  out  heaven  with  the  span, 

And  comprehended  the  dust  of  the  earth  in  a  measure, 

And  weighed  the  mountains  in  scales, 

And  the  hills  in  a  balance? 

Who  hath  directed  the  spirit  of  the  Lord? 

Or  being  his  counselor  hath  taught  him? 

With  whom  took  he  counsel,  and  who  instructed  him. 

And  taught  him  in  the  path  of  justice, 

And  taught  him  knowledge, 

And  showed  to  him  the  way  of  understanding? 

Behold,  the  nations  are  as  a  drop  of  a  bucket, 

And  are  counted  as  the  small  dust  of  the  balance; 

Behold,  he  taketh  up  the  isles  as  a  very  little  thing. 

And  Lebanon  is  not  sufficient  to  burn, 

Nor  the  beasts  thereof  sufficient  for  a  burnt  offering. 

All  the  nations  before  him  are  as  nothing; 

They  are  accounted  by  him  as  less  than  nothing,  and  vanity. 

To  whom  then  will  ye  liken  God? 

Or  what  likeness  will  be  compared  to  him? 

The  workman  melteth  a  graven  image, 

And  the  goldsmith  spreadeth  it  over  with  gold, 

And  caste th  silver  chains. 

He  that  is  so  impoverished  that  he  hath  no  oblation 
Chooseth  a  tree  that  will  not  rot; 

He  seeketh  to  him  a  skilful  workman 

To  prepare  a  graven  image,  that  shall  not  be  moved. 

Have  ye  not  known?  have  ye  not  heard? 

Hath  it  not  been  told  you  from  the  beginning? 

Have  ye  not  understood  from  the  foundations  of  the  earth? 
It  is  he  that  sitteth  above  the  circle  of  the  earth, 

And  the  inhabitants  thereof  are  as  grasshoppers; 


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That  stretcheth  out  the  heavens  as  a  curtain, 

And  spreadeth  them  out  as  a  tent  to  dwell  in; 

That  bringeth  the  princes  to  nothing; 

He  maketh  the  judges  of  the  earth  as  vanity. 

Yea,  they  shall  not  be  planted; 

Yea,  they  shall  not  be  sown; 

YYa,  their  stock  shall  not  take  root  in  the  earth. 

And  he  shall  also  blow  upon  them,  and  they  shall  wither, 
x4nd  the  whirlwind  shall  take  them  away  as  stubble. 

“To  whom  then  will  ye  liken  me,  or  shall  I  be  equal?” 

Saith  the  Holy  One. 

Lift  up  your  eyes  on  high, 

And  behold  who  hath  created  these  things, 

That  bringeth  out  their  host  by  number; 

He  calleth  them  all  by  name; 

By  the  greatness  of  his  might,  and  because  he  is  strong  in 
power, 

Not  one  faileth. 

Why  sayest  thou,  O  Jacob, 

And  speakest,  O  Israel, 

“My  way  is  hid  from  the  Lord, 

And  my  judgment  is  passed  over  from  my  God”? 

Hast  thou  not  known?  hast  thou  not  heard 
That  the  everlasting  God,  the  Lord, 

The  Creator  of  the  ends  of  the  earth, 

Fainteth  not,  neither  is  weary? 

There  is  no  searching  of  his  understanding. 

He  giveth  power  to  the  faint; 

And  to  them  that  have  no  might  he  increaseth  strength. 
Even  the  youths  shall  faint  and  be  weary, 

And  the  young  men  shall  utterly  fall. 

But  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength; 
They  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles; 


ISAIAH,  PROPHET  OF  THE  MESSIAH 


81 


They  shall  run,  and  not  be  weary; 

They  shall  walk,  and  not  faint. 

THE  FALL  OF  BABYLON 

Come  down,  and  sit  in  the  dust,  O  virgin  daughter  of 
Babylon,  sit  on  the  ground:  there  is  no  throne,  O  daughter 
of  the  Chaldeans;  for  thou  slialt  no  more  be  called  “tender 
and  delicate.” 

Take  the  millstones,  and  grind  meal:  uncover  thy  locks, 
pass  over  the  rivers.  Thy  nakedness  shall  be  uncovered,  yea, 
thy  shame  shall  be  seen.  Sit  thou  silent,  and  get  thee  into 
darkness,  O  daughter  of  the  Chaldeans:  for  thou  slialt  no  more 
be  called  “the  lady  of  kingdoms.”  And  thou  saidst,  “I 
shall  be  a  lady  forever” :  so  that  thou  didst  not  lay  these  things 
to  thy  heart,  neither  didst  remember  the  latter  end  of  it. 
Therefore  hear  now  this,  thou  that  art  given  to  pleasures,  that 
dwellest  carelessly,  that  sayest  in  thy  heart,  “I  am,  and  none 
else  besides  me ;  I  shall  not  sit  as  a  widow,  neither  shall  I  know 
the  loss  of  children.”  But  these  two  things  shall  come  to  thee 
in  a  moment  in  one  day,  the  loss  of  children,  and  widowhood: 
they  shall  come  upon  thee  in  their  perfection  for  the  multi¬ 
tude  of  thy  sorceries,  and  for  the  great  abundance  of  thine 
enchantments. 

For  thou  hast  trusted  in  thy  wickedness:  thou  hast  said, 
“None  seeth  me.”  Thy  wisdom  and  thy  knowledge,  it  hath 
perverted  thee;  and  thou  hast  said  in  thy  heart,  “I  am,  and 
none  else  besides  me.”  Therefore  shall  evil  come  upon  thee; 
thou  shalt  not  know  from  whence  it  ariseth :  and  mischief  shall 
fall  upon  thee;  thou  shalt  not  be  able  to  put  it  off:  and  deso¬ 
lation  shall  come  upon  thee  suddenly,  which  thou  shalt  not 
know.  Stand  now  with  thine  enchantments,  and  with  the 
multitude  of  thy  sorceries,  wherein  thou  hast  labored  from 
thy  youth;  if  so  be  thou  shalt  be  able  to  profit,  if  so  be  thou 
mayest  prevail. 


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Thou  art  wearied  in  the  multitude  of  thy  counsels.  Let 
now  the  astrologers,  the  star-gazers,  the  monthly  prognosti¬ 
cators,  stand  up,  and  save  thee  from  these  things  that  shall 
come  upon  thee.  Behold,  they  shall  be  as  stubble;  the  fire 
shall  burn  them;  they  shall  not  deliver  themselves  from  the 
power  of  the  flame:  there  shall  not  be  a  coal  to  warm  at,  nor 
fire  to  sit  before  it. 

Thus  shall  they  be  to  thee  with  whom  thou  hast  labored, 
even  thy  merchants,  from  thy  youth:  they  shall  wander  every 
one  to  his  quarter;  none  shall  save  thee. 

Go  ye  forth  of  Babylon, 

Flee  ye  from  the  Chaldeans; 

with  a  voice  of  singing  declare  ye,  tell  this,  utter  it  even  to  the 
end  of  the  earth.  Say  ye: 

4 ‘The  Lord  hath  redeemed  his  servant  Jacob: 

And  they  thirsted  not  when  he  led  them  through  the 
deserts : 

He  caused  the  waters  to  flow  out  of  the  rock  for  them : 

He  clave  the  rock  also,  and  the  waters  gushed  out. 

There  is  no  peace,  saith  the  Lord,  to  the  wicked.” 

THE  SERVANT  WHO  SUFFERS  AND  IS  SATISFIED 

Behold,  my  servant  shall  deal  prudently; 

He  shall  be  exalted  and  extolled, 

And  be  very  high. 

As  many  were  astonished  at  thee 

(His  visage  was  so  marred  more  than  any  man, 

And  his  form  more  than  the  sons  of  men), 

So  shall  he  sprinkle  many  nations. 

Kings  shall  shut  their  mouths  at  him; 

For  that  which  had  not  been  told  them  shall  thev  see, 

And  that  which  they  had  not  heard  shall  they  consider. 


ISAIAH,  PROPHET  OF  THE  MESSIAH 


83 


Who  hath  believed  our  report? 

And  to  whom  is  the  arm  of  the  Lord  revealed? 

For  he  shall  grow  up  before  him  like  a  tender  plant, 

And  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground. 

He  hath  no  form  nor  comeliness; 

And  when  we  shall  see  him,  there  is  no  beauty  that  we 
should  desire  him. 

He  is  despised  and  rejected  of  men; 

A  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief: 

And  we  hid,  as  it  were,  our  faces  from  him; 

He  was  despised,  and  we  esteemed  him  not. 

Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs, 

And  carried  our  sorrows: 

Yet  we  did  esteem  him  stricken, 

Smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted! 

He  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions, 

He  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities: 

The  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  him, 

And  by  his  stripes  we  are  healed. 

All  we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray; 

We  have  turned  every  one  to  his  own  way; 

And  the  Lord  hath  laid  on  him 
The  iniquity  of  us  all. 

He  was  oppressed,  and  he  was  afflicted, 

Yet  he  opened  not  his  mouth: 

He  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter, 

And  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers  is  dumb, 

So  he  openeth  not  his  mouth. 

He  was  taken  from  prison  and  from  judgment, 

And  who  shall  declare  his  generation? 


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For  lie  was  cut  off  from  the  land  of  the  living: 

For  the  transgression  of  my  people  was  he  stricken. 

And  he  made  his  grave  with  the  wicked, 

And  with  the  rich,  in  his  death; 

Because  he  had  done  no  violence, 

Neither  was  any  deceit  in  his  mouth. 

Yet  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  bruise  him; 

He  hath  put  him  to  grief. 

When  thou  shalt  make  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin, 

He  shall  see  his  posterity,  he  shall  prolong  his  days, 

And  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  shall  prosper  in  his  hand. 
He  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be  satisfied: 
By  his  knowledge  shall  my  righteous  servant  justify  many; 
For  he  shall  bear  their  iniquities. 

Therefore  will  I  divide  him  a  portion  with  the  great, 

And  he  shall  divide  the  spoil  with  the  strong; 

Because  he  poured  out  his  soul  unto  death, 

And  he  was  numbered  with  the  transgressors: 

And  he  bore  the  sin  of  many, 

And  made  intercession  for  the  transgressors. 


OBADIAH 


Prophet  of  Hope  in  the  Hour  of  Gloom 

DOWN  the  throats  of  the  treacherous  and  cruelly  exultant  Edom- 
I  ites,  Obadiah  thrust  Israel’s  defiance,  and  with  it  her  invincible 
hope.  Then,  there  is  silence;  and  we  hear  his  voice  no  more. 
But,  in  that  one  cry,  there  is  the  intensity  of  accumulated  passion,  the 
pent-up  force  of  centuries  of  hatred.  The  blood  feud  between  Israel  and 
Edom  is  perhaps  the  longest  in  history.  It  began  on  the  day  that  Jacob 
deceived  and  supplanted  his  brother  Esau.  It  continued  throughout  the 
careers  of  both  races,  projecting  itself  into  the  Christian  era  in  the  hated 
rule  of  the  Herods,  and  ended  only  with  the  overthrow  of  Israel  by  Rome. 

Commanding  as  she  did  both  the  ports  of  the  Gulf  of  Akaba  and  the 
caravan  routes  from  Arabia  to  Gaza  and  Damascus,  the  very  location  of 
Edom  was  such  as  to  maintain  perpetual  animosity  between  herself  and 
Israel.  A  hundred  miles  by  about  twenty  of  rugged  and  mountainous  terri¬ 
tory,  grandly  picturesque  with  cliffs  and  chasms  and  tangled  hills  and 
slim  valleys;  climbing  eastward  to  the  rocky  stretches  of  the  eastern  pla¬ 
teau,  dropping  precipitately  westward  to  the  desert  “Arabah”;  well  sup¬ 
plied  with  living  springs  and  streams  of  water,  with  cornfields  and  vine¬ 
yards,  high  and  lifted  up  in  the  clefts  of  rocks  reached  only  through  narrow 
and  deep  defiles;  such,  in  brief,  was  the  location  of  Edom.  Thus  impreg- 
nably  situated,  and  in  control  of  the  southeastern  trade  routes,  she  had 
been  a  constant  source  of  bitterness  to  Israel. 

And  this  antagonism,  arising  out  of  the  conflicting  material  and  national 
interests  of  both,  was  intensified  into  the  deepest  hatred  by  the  added  con¬ 
flict  in  their  ideals.  For  Edom  was  essentially  materialistic  in  all  her  aims. 
Secure  in  the  fastnesses  of  her  hills,  she  pursued  after  wealth  and  grandeur 
with  a  vigor  that  made  her  worldly-wise  men  a  byword  and  a  proverb. 

Israel,  on  the  other  hand,  despite  her  manifold  weaknesses,  had  pur¬ 
sued  after  the  ideal  of  a  knowledge  of  God.  Consequently,  her  sorrow  was 
turned  to  the  gall  of  bitterness  when  Edom,  hated  Edom,  vengefully  leagued 
with  pagan  Babylon  to  destroy  Judah.  “Remember,  O  Lord,”  wrote  a 
psalmist  years  later,  “the  children  of  Edom  in  the  days  of  Jerusalem;  who 
said,  ‘Rase  it!  Rase  it,  even  to  the  foundation  thereof!”’  But,  in  the  very 
hour  almost  of  Judah’s  desolation  and  Edom’s  vaunting,  Obadiah  cried 
aloud  his  prediction  of  Edom’s  doom  and  Israel’s  restoration.  Were  Edom 
never  so  high  in  the  security  of  hills,  the  Lord  would  yet  bring  her  down; 
complete  beyond  recovery  would  be  her  ruin;  but  the  remnant  of  Israel 
would  return  to  their  land  in  security  and  power.  Such  was  the  trium¬ 
phant  hope  of  this  swift  and  fleeting  voice  among  the  prophets! 

85 


OBADIAH 


THE  DOOM  OF  EDOM 


THUS  saith  the  Lord  God  concerning  Edom:  44 We  have 
heard  a  rumor  from  the  Lord,  and  an  ambassador  is 
sent  among  the  nations,  saying,  ‘Arise  ye,  and  let  us 
rise  up  against  her  in  battle.’  ” 

Behold,  I  have  made  thee  small  among  the  nations: 
Thou  art  greatly  despised. 

The  pride  of  thy  heart  hath  deceived  thee, 

Thou  that  dwellest  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock, 

Whose  habitation  is  high; 

That  saith  in  his  heart, 

“Who  shall  bring  me  down  to  the  ground?” 

Though  thou  exalt  thyself  as  the  eagle, 

And  though  thou  set  thy  nest  among  the  stars, 

Thence  will  I  bring  thee  down,  saith  the  Lord. 


EDOM’S  BRIEF  REJOICING 

If  thieves  came  to  thee,  if  robbers  by  night 
(How  art  thou  cut  off!), 

Would  they  not  steal  only  till  they  had  enough? 

If  grape-gatherers  came  to  thee, 

Would  they  not  leave  some  gleaning  grapes? 

How  are  the  things  of  Esau  searched  out! 

How  are  his  hidden  things  sought  up! 

All  the  men  of  thy  confederacy 

Have  brought  thee  even  to  the  border: 

The  men  that  were  at  peace  with  thee 

Have  deceived  thee  and  prevailed  against  thee. 


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OB  AD  I  AH 


87 


They  that  eat  thy  bread  lay  a  snare  under  thee: 

There  is  no  understanding  in  him. 

Shall  I  not  in  that  day,  saith  the  Lord, 

Destroy  the  wise  men  out  of  Edom, 

And  understanding  out  of  the  mount  of  Esau  ? 

And  thy  mighty  men,  O  Teman,  shall  be  dismayed, 

So  that  every  one  of  the  mount  of  Esau  may  be  cut  off 
by  slaughter. 

For  thy  violence  against  thy  brother  Jacob 
Shame  shall  cover  thee, 

And  thou  shalt  be  cut  off  forever. 

In  the  day  that  thou  stoodest  on  the  other  side, 

In  the  day  that  the  strangers  carried  away  captive  his 
substance, 

And  foreigners  entered  into  his  gates, 

And  cast  lots  upon  Jerusalem, 

Even  thou  wast  as  one  of  them. 

But  thou  shouldst  not  have  looked  on  the  day  of  thy 
brother 

In  the  day  that  he  became  a  captive; 

Neither  shouldst  thou  have  rejoiced  over  the  children  of 
Judah 

In  the  day  of  their  destruction; 

Neither  shouldst  thou  have  spoken  proudly 
In  the  day  of  distress.15 

Neither  shouldst  thou  have  stood  in  the  cross  way, 

To  cut  off  those  of  his  that  did  escape; 

Neither  shouldst  thou  have  delivered  up  those  of  his  that 
did  remain 

In  the  day  of  their  calamity. 

For  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  near 
Upon  all  the  nations: 


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As  thou  hast  done,  it  shall  be  done  to  thee; 

Thy  dealings  shall  return  upon  thine  own  head. 

For  as  ye  have  drunk  upon  my  holy  mountain, 

So  shall  all  the  nations  drink  continually; 

Yea,  they  shall  drink,  and  swallow  down, 

And  shall  be  as  though  they  had  not  been, 

THE  TRIUMPH  OF  ZION 

But  in  mount  Zion  shall  be  those  that  escape, 

And  it  shall  be  holy, 

And  the  house  of  Jacob  shall  possess  their  possessions. 
And  the  house  of  Jacob  shall  be  a  fire, 

And  the  house  of  Joseph  a  flame, 

And  the  house  of  Esau  for  stubble, 

And  they  shall  burn  among  them  and  devour  them, 

And  there  shall  not  be  any  remaining  of  the  house  of 
Esau ; 

For  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it. 

And  they  of  the  South  shall  possess  the  mount  of  Esau, 
And  they  of  the  lowland  the  Philistines; 

And  they  shall  possess  the  field  of  Ephraim,  and  the  field 
of  Samaria, 

And  Benjamin  shall  possess  Gilead. 

And  the  captives  of  this  host  of  the  children  of  Israel 
Shall  possess  that  which  belongeth  to  the  Canaanites, 
Even  unto  Zarephath; 

And  the  captives  of  Jerusalem,  that  are  in  Sepharad, 
Shall  possess  the  cities  of  the  South. 

And  saviors  shall  come  upon  mount  Zion 
To  judge  the  mount  of  Esau; 

And  the  kingdom  shall  be  the  Lord’s. 


HAGGAI  AND  ZECHARIAH 

In  reading  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  Temple  under  Zerubbabel  one 
learns  how  the  inspiration  for  the  work  came  from  the  cheering  words 
of  two  prophets.  Haggai  was  an  old  man  who  had  seen  the  first  temple, 
and  Zechariah  was  his  younger  helper. 

We  will  not  quote  further  from  the  earlier  prophet,  but  the  words 
of  Zechariah  are  so  picturesque  that  four  of  his  visions  of  the  coming 
days  of  purity  and  peace  are  quoted  below.  In  the  first,  God’s  law  is 
pictured  pursuing  the  evildoer.  In  the  second,  God’s  angels  are  seen 
on  horseback,  returned  after  going  to  and  fro  in  the  earth.  They  report 
that  the  earth  is  still  and  at  rest,  and  one  of  them  obtains  from  God  the 
promise  that  Zion  shall  be  comforted.  In  the  third,  the  prophet  sees 
Wickedness,  under  the  figure  of  a  woman,  carried  off  in  a  barrel  to  Baby¬ 
lonia,  whence  she  came.  In  the  fourth,  four  celestial  chariots  go  forth 
to  the  four  winds  to  protect  Jerusalem  against  any  invader,  and  return 
in  peace. 


VISIONS  OF  WARNING  AND  CHEER 

The  Vision  of  the  Flying  Roll 

THEN  I  turned,  and  lifted  up  mine  eyes,  and  looked, 
and,  behold,  a  flying  roll.  And  he  said  to  me,  “What 
seest  thou?” 

And  I  answered,  “I  see  a  flying  roll;  the  length  thereof  is 
twenty  cubits,  and  the  breadth  thereof  ten  cubits.” 

Then  said  he  to  me,  “This  is  the  curse  that  goeth  forth 
over  the  face  of  the  whole  earth:  for  every  one  that  steal- 
eth  shall  be  cut  off  as  on  this  side  according  to  it;  and  every 
one  that  sweareth  shall  be  cut  off  as  on  that  side  according 
to  it. 

“I  will  bring  it  forth,”  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  “and  it 
shall  enter  into  the  house  of  the  thief,  and  into  the  house  of 
him  that  sweareth  falsely  by  my  name:  and  it  shall  remain  in 
the  midst  of  his  house,  and  shall  consume  it  with  the  timber 
thereof  and  the  stones  thereof.” 


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©Curtis  &  Cameron 

HAGGAI 

From  a  fresco  by  Sargent 


© Curtis  &  Cameron 

ZECHARIAH 
From  a  fresco  by  Sargent 


HAGGAI  AND  ZE  CHARI  AH 


91 


A  Vision  of  God’s  Horsemen 

The  prophet  dates  his  vision  “in  the  second  year  of  Darius,”  a  time 
of  revolts  in  various  provinces  of  the  Medo-Persian  empire.  Just  now 
these  rebellions  had  temporarily  subsided,  but  hope  of  eventual  release 
was  suggesting  itself  to  the  freedom-loving  people  of  Judah. 

I  saw  by  night,  and,  behold,  a  man  riding  upon  a  red  horse, 
and  he  stood  among  the  myrtle  trees  that  were  in  the  bottom; 
and  behind  him  were  there  red  horses,  speckled  and  white. 

Then  said  I,  “O  my  lord,  what  are  these?” 

And  the  angel  that  talked  with  me  said  to  me,  “I  will  show 
thee  what  these  be.” 

And  the  man  that  stood  among  the  myrtle  trees  answered 
and  said,  “  These  are  they  whom  the  Lord  hath  sent  to  walk 
to  and  fro  through  the  earth.” 

And  they  answered  the  angel  of  the  Lord  that  stood  among 
the  myrtle  trees,  and  said,  “We  have  walked  to  and  fro  through 
the  earth;  and,  behold,  all  the  earth  sitteth  still,  and  is  at 
rest.” 

Then  the  angel  of  the  Lord  answered  and  said,  “O  Lord  of 
hosts,  how  long  wilt  thou  not  have  mercy  on  Jerusalem  and 
on  the  cities  of  Judah,  against  which  thou  hast  had  indigna¬ 
tion  these  threescore  and  ten  years?”16 

And  the  Lord  answered  the  angel  that  talked  with  me  with 
good  words  and  comfortable  words. 

So  the  angel  that  communed  with  me  said  to  me:  “Cry 
thou,  saying,  ‘Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts:  I  am  jealous  for 
Jerusalem  and  for  Zion  with  a  great  jealousy.  And  I  am  very 
sore  displeased  with  the  heathen  that  are  at  ease;  for  I  was 
but  a  little  displeased,  and  they  helped  forward  the  affliction. 
Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord:  I  am  returned  to  Jerusalem 
with  mercies:  my  house  shall  be  built  in  it,  saith  the  Lord  of 
hosts,  and  a  line  shall  be  stretched  forth  upon  Jerusalem.’ 
Cry  yet,  saying,  ‘Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts:  My  cities 
through  prosperity  shall  yet  be  spread  abroad;  and  the  Lord 
shall  yet  comfort  Zion,  and  shall  yet  choose  Jerusalem.’” 


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The  Vision  of  the  Woman  in  a  Barrel 

Then  the  angel  that  talked  with  me  went  forth,  and  said 
to  me,  “Lift  up  now  thine  eyes,  and  see  what  is  this  that  goeth 
forth.” 

And  I  said,  “What  is  it?” 

And  he  said,  “This  is  a  barrel  that  goeth  forth.”  He  said 
moreover,  “And  this  is  a  woman  sitting  in  the  midst  of  the 
barrel.”  And  he  said,  “This  is  Wickedness.”  And  he  cast 
her  down  into  the  midst  of  the  barrel:  and  he  cast  a  weight 
of  lead  upon  the  mouth  thereof. 

Then  lifted  I  up  mine  eyes,  and  saw,  and,  behold,  there 
came  forth  two  women,  and  the  wind  was  in  their  wings.  Now 
they  had  wings  like  the  wings  of  a  stork;  and  they  lifted  up 
the  barrel  between  earth  and  heaven. 

Then  said  I  to  the  angel  that  talked  with  me,  “Whither 
do  these  bear  the  barrel?” 

And  he  said  to  me,  “To  build  her  a  house  in  the  land  of 
Shinar:  and  when  it  is  prepared,  she  shall  be  set  there  in  her 
own  place.” 


The  Vision  of  the  Four  Chariots 

And  I  turned  and  lifted  up  mine  eyes,  and  looked,  and, 
behold,  there  came  four  chariots  out  from  between  the  two 
mountains;  and  the  mountains  were  mountains  of  brass.  In 
the  first  chariot  were  red  horses ;  and  in  the  second  chariot  black 
horses ;  and  in  the  third  chariot  white  horses ;  and  in  the  fourth 
chariot  grizzled  and  bay  horses. 

Then  I  answered  and  said  to  the  angel  that  talked  with 
me,  “What  are  these,  my  lord?” 

And  the  angel  answered  and  said  to  me,  “These  are  the 
four  spirits  of  the  heavens,  that  go  forth  from  standing  before 
the  Lord  of  all  the  earth.  The  black  horses  which  are  therein 
go  forth  into  the  north  country;  and  the  white  go  forth  after 
them;  and  the  grizzled  go  forth  toward  the  south  country.” 


HAGGAI  AND  ZE  CHARI  AH 


93 


And  the  bay  went  forth,  and  sought  to  go  that  they  might 
walk  to  and  fro  through  the  earth;  and  he  said,  “Get  you 
hence,  walk  to  and  fro  through  the  earth.” 

So  they  walked  to  and  fro  through  the  earth. 

Then  cried  he  upon  me,  and  spoke  to  me,  saying,  “Behold, 
they  that  go  toward  the  north  country  have  quieted  my  spirit 
in  the  north  country.” 

Facing  the  four  winds  of  heaven,  chariots  go  forth  to  fulfil  God’s 
judgments  upon  the  nations  that  had  oppressed  Israel.  The  prophet  was 
comforted  because  those  who  first  went  departed  northward,  to  bring  retri¬ 
bution  upon  Assyria. 


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MALACHI 

From  a  painting  by  James  J .  Tissot 


MALACHI 

We  know  what  were  the  conditions  that  Nehemiah  and  Ezra  en¬ 
deavored  to  correct.  The  people  had  already  begun  to  neglect  the  temple 
that  Zerubbabel  had  rebuilt,  and  were  cheating  in  making  their  offerings 
to  Jehovah.  They  were  divorcing  their  Jewish  wives  and  marrying  among 
the  heathen,  oppressing  the  poor,  and  living  greedily. 

Against  these  evils  arose  a  prophet.  Malachi  means  “My  Messenger. ” 
This  author  was  truly  a  “messenger”  from  Jehovah,  but  he  promises  a 
greater  yet  to  come. 

Here  is  his  argument:  God  loves  Israel,  but  Israel  has  forgotten 
God  and  is  slighting  his  worship.  Some  powerful  messenger  must  come, 
a  second  Elijah  in  sternness  and  patience,  to  bring  Israel  back  to  its  God. 


A  DIVINE  MESSENGER  PROMISED 

BEHOLD,  I  will  send  my  messenger, 

And  he  shall  prepare  the  way  before  me: 

And  the  Lord,  whom  ye  seek, 

Shall  suddenly  come  to  his  temple. 

But  who  may  endure  the  day  of  his  coming? 

And  who  shall  stand  wThen  he  appeareth? 

For  he  is  like  a  refiner’s  fire 
And  like  fullers’  soap: 

And  he  shall  sit  as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of  silver, 

And  he  shall  purify  the  sons  of  Levi, 

And  refine  them  as  gold  and  silver, 

That  they  may  offer  to  the  Lord  an  offering  in  righteous¬ 
ness. 

Then  shall  the  offering  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem 
Be  pleasant  to  the  Lord, 

As  in  the  days  of  old, 

And  as  in  former  years. 


I  will  come  near  to  you  to  judgment; 
And  I  will  be  a  swift  witness 


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©Curtis  &  Cameron 


MALACHI 

From  a  f  resco  by  Joh  n  S.  Sargent 


Against  the  sorcerers,  and  against  the  adulterers, 

And  against  false  swearers, 

And  against  those  who  oppress  the  hireling  in  his  wages, 
The  widow  and  the  fatherless; 

That  turn  aside  the  stranger  from  his  right, 

And  fear  not  me,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 

For  I  am  the  Lord,  I  change  not; 

Therefore  ye,  sons  of  Jacob,  are  not  consumed. 

THE  BLESSING  OF  REMEMBERING  GOD 

“Will  a  man  rob  God? 

Yet  ye  have  robbed  me. 


MALACHI 


97 


But  ye  say,  ‘ Wherein  have  we  robbed  thee?’ 

In  tithes  and  offerings. 

Ye  are  cursed  with  a  curse, 

For  ye  have  robbed  me, 

Even  this  whole  nation. 

Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into  the  storehouse, 

That  there  may  be  food  in  my  house, 

And  prove  me  now  herewith,” 

Saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 

“If  I  will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven, 

And  pour  you  out  a  blessing, 

That  there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to  receive  it.” 

Then  they  that  feared  the  Lord  spoke  often  one  with 
another; 

And  the  Lord  hearkened  and  heard. 

And  a  book  of  remembrance  was  written  before  him, 

Of  them  that  feared  the  Lord, 

And  that  thought  upon  his  name. 

“And  they  shall  be  mine,”  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 

“In  the  day  when  I  make  up  my  jewels.” 

A  SECOND  ELIJAH 

Behold,  I  will  send  you  Elijah  the  prophet 
Before  the  coming  of  the  great  and  dreadful  day  of  the 
Lord: 

And  he  shall  turn  the  heart  of  the  fathers  to  the  children, 
And  the  heart  of  the  children  to  their  fathers, 

Lest  I  come  and  smite  the  earth  with  a  curse. 


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©Curtis  &  Cameron 

JOEL  AND  OBADIAH 

From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

Joel  hides  his  averted  face  under  his  heavy  mantle  as  if  unwilling  to  see  the  doom  that 
was  destined  to  overthrow  his  nation.  Obadiah  grasps  his  head  in  both  hands  as  if  his 
brain  were  reeling  under  the  shock  of  his  visions.  They  see  looming  large  upon  the  horizon 
those  menacing  forms  which  became  so  clear  to  later  prophets.  In  their  present  agony, 
they  see  no  hope,  but  later  we  shall  hear  the  comforting  words,  “Thou  wilt  keep  him  in 
perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee.” 


JOEL 

Joel  was  a  prophet  of  Judea,  and  particularly  of  Jerusalem.  The 
date  of  his  prophesying  is  uncertain;  but  as  he  mentions  the  Greeks,  and 
speaks  of  the  walls  of  the  city  as  standing,  he  probably  lived  near  the  close 
of  the  Persian  period.  The  occasion  of  his  prophecies  was,  first,  the  recent 
occurrence  of  a  devastating  invasion  of  locusts,  and,  secondly,  a  time 
a  few  months  later,  when  the  land  had  begun  to  recover  its  fruitfulness 
again.  He  describes  the  visitation  with  marvelous  realism  and  without 
exaggeration,  as  various  modern  writers  testify.  He  makes  fine  use  of 
the  lessons  of  the  plague  to  point  his  people  to  the  saving  power  of  the 
Lord  and  to  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  that  is  to  come  on  all  the  people. 


THE  OVERCOMING  OF  DISASTER 


The  Oncoming  of  the  Locusts 


THAT  which  the  palmer-worm  hath  left  hath  the  lo¬ 
cust  eaten; 

And  that  which  the  locust  hath  left  hath  the  canker-worm 
eaten ; 

And  that  which  the  canker-worm  hath  left  hath  the  cater¬ 
pillar  eaten.17 

For  a  nation  is  come  up  on  my  land, 

Strong,  and  without  number; 

Whose  teeth  are  the  teeth  of  a  lion. 

And  he  hath  the  cheek  teeth  of  a  lioness. 

He  hath  laid  my  vine  waste, 

And  barked  my  fig  tree: 

He  hath  made  it  clean  bare,  and  cast  it  away; 

The  branches  thereof  are  made  white. 


Blow  ye  the  trumpet  in  Zion, 

Sound  an  alarm  in  my  holy  mountain : 

Let  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  tremble: 
For  the  day  of  the  Lord  cometli, 


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A  SWARM  OF  LOCUSTS  FLYING  OVER  JERUSALEM 
Photograph  by  American  Colony,  Jerusalem 

Infinite  in  number,  the  locusts  devour  everything  living.  In  the  prophet’s  vision  they 
typify  the  invading  enemies  of  Israel. 


JOEL 


101 


For  it  is  nigh  at  hand: 

A  day  of  darkness  and  of  gloominess, 

A  day  of  clouds  and  of  thick  darkness, 

As  the  morning  spread  upon  the  mountains! 

A  great  people  and  a  strong: 

There  hath  not  been  ever  the  like, 

Neither  shall  be  any  more  after  it, 

Even  to  the  years  of  many  generations. 

A  fire  devoureth  before  them, 

And  behind  them  a  flame  burneth. 

The  land  is  like  the  garden  of  Eden  before  them, 

And  behind  them  a  desolate  wilderness; 

Yea,  and  nothing  shall  escape  them. 

The  appearance  of  them  is  like  the  appearance  of  horses, 
And  like  horsemen  so  shall  they  run. 

Like  the  noise  of  chariots  on  the  tops  of  mountains  shall 
they  leap, 

Like  the  noise  of  a  flame  of  fire  that  devoureth  the  stubble, 
Like  a  strong  people  set  in  battle  array. 

Before  their  face  the  people  shall  be  much  pained: 

All  faces  shall  gather  blackness. 

They  shall  run  like  mighty  men; 

They  shall  climb  the  wall  like  men  of  war; 

And  they  shall  march  every  one  in  his  ways, 

And  they  shall  not  break  their  ranks. 

Neither  shall  one  thrust  the  other; 

They  shall  walk  every  one  in  his  path; 

And  when  they  fall  upon  the  sword,  they  shall  not  be 
wounded. 

They  shall  run  to  and  fro  in  the  city; 

They  shall  run  up  on  the  wall; 

They  shall  climb  up  into  the  houses; 

They  shall  enter  in  at  the  windows  like  a  thief. 


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Sir  Edwin  Landseer 


KING  OF  THE  FOREST 
“Be  not  afraid,  ye  beasts  of  the  field 

The  earth  shall  quake  before  them; 

The  heavens  shall  tremble; 

The  sun  and  the  moon  shall  be  dark, 

And  the  stars  shall  withdraw  their  shining: 

And  the  Lord  shall  utter  his  voice  before  his  army; 
For  his  host  is  very  great; 

For  he  is  strong  that  executeth  his  word: 

For  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  great  and  very  terrible; 
And  who  can  abide  it? 


JOEL 


103 


The  Outcry  of  the  People 

Therefore  also  now,  saith  the  Lord, 

Turn  ye  to  me  with  all  your  heart, 

And  with  fasting,  and  with  weeping,  and  with  mourning; 
And  rend  your  heart,  and  not  your  garments, 

And  turn  to  the  Lord  your  God; 

For  he  is  gracious  and  merciful, 

Slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  kindness. 

Who  knoweth  if  he  will  turn, 

And  repent  and  leave  a  blessing  behind  him? 

Blow  the  trumpet  in  Zion! 

Sanctify  a  fast,  call  a  solemn  assembly: 

Gather  the  people, 

Sanctify  the  congregation, 

Assemble  the  elders,  gather  the  children. 

Let  the  bridegroom  go  forth  from  his  chamber, 

And  the  bride  out  of  her  pavilion. 

Let  the  priests,  the  ministers  of  the  Lord, 

Weep  between  the  porch  and  the  altar, 

And  let  them  say,  “Spare  thy  people,  O  Lord, 

And  give  not  thy  heritage  to  reproach, 

That  the  heathen  should  rule  over  them. 

Wherefore  should  they  say  among  the  people, 

‘Where  is  their  God?’” 

After  the  Departure  of  the  Locusts 

Then  will  the  Lord  be  jealous  for  his  land, 

And  pity  his  people. 

Yea,  the  Lord  will  answer  and  say  to  his  people, 
“Behold,  I  will  send  you  grain,  and  wine,  and  oil, 

And  ye  shall  be  satisfied  therewith; 

And  I  will  no  more  make  you  a  reproach  among  the 
heathen.” 


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THE  OLD  LACE  MAKER 

From  a  painting  by  Nikolaas  Maes 

As  old  age  makes  the  day’s  task  more  and  more  wearisome,  this  old  saint  turns  to  the 
passage  in  Joel,  “And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  whosoever  shall  call  on  the  name  of  the 
Lord  shall  be  delivered.” 


JOEL 


105 


Fear  not,  O  land,  be  glad  and  rejoice; 

For  the  Lord  will  do  great  things. 

Be  not  afraid,  ye  beasts  of  the  field: 

For  the  pastures  of  the  wilderness  do  spring, 

For  the  tree  beareth  its  fruit, 

The  fig  tree  and  the  vine  do  yield  their  strength. 

Be  glad  then,  ye  children  of  Zion, 

And  rejoice  in  the  Lord  your  God; 

For  he  giveth  you  the  former  rain  moderately; 

He  causeth  to  come  down  for  you  the  rain, 

The  former  rain  and  the  latter  rain,  in  the  first  month. 
The  floors  shall  be  full  of  wheat, 

And  the  vats  shall  overflow  with  wine  and  oil. 

I  will  restore  to  you  the  years  that  the  locust  hath  eaten, 
The  canker-worm,  and  the  caterpillar,  and  the  palmer- 
worm, 

My  great  army  which  I  sent  among  you. 

And  ye  shall  eat  in  plenty,  and  be  satisfied, 

And  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  your  God, 

Who  hath  dealt  wondrously  with  you. 

My  people  shall  never  be  put  to  shame; 

And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  in  the  midst  of  Israel; 

That  I  am  the  Lord  your  God,  and  there  is  none  else. 
My  people  shall  never  be  put  to  shame. 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  afterward, 

That  I  will  pour  out  my  spirit  upon  all  flesh: 

And  your  sons  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy; 

Your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams; 

Your  young  men  shall  see  visions. 

And  also  upon  the  menservants  and  upon  the  handmaids 
In  those  days  will  I  pour  out  my  spirit. 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 

That  whosoever  shall  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall 
be  delivered. 


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A  Host  of  Peace  Enters  Jerusalem 

The  poet,  in  his  trust  that  God  will  relieve  the  city  from  its  foes, 
imagines  a  processional  about  to  enter  the  rebuilt  gates  after  its  deliver¬ 
ance. 

In  that  day  shall  this  song  be  sung  in  the  land  of  Judah: 
We  have  a  strong  city; 

Salvation  will  God  appoint  for  walls  and  bulwarks. 

Open  ye  the  gates, 

That  the  righteous  nation  that  keepeth  the  truth  may 
enter  in. 

Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed 
on  thee, 

Because  he  trusteth  in  thee. 

Trust  ye  in  the  Lord  forever, 

For  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting  strength. 


ANTICIPATION  OF  THE 

MESSIAH 

BEHOLD,  THY  KING  COMETH! 

Still  the  hope  that  a  king  would  arise  to  deliver  the  Hebrews  did  not 
die;  and  in  this  song  the  longed-for  deliverer  is  pictured  as  having  already 
won  the  victory,  returning  in  triumph  to  his  capital. 

REJOICE  greatly,  O  daughter  of  Zion! 

'  Shout,  O  daughter  of  Jerusalem! 

Behold,  thy  King  cometh  to  thee: 

He  is  just,  and  having  salvation; 

Lowly,  and  riding  upon  an  ass, 

On  a  colt,  the  foal  of  an  ass. 

I  will  cut  off  the  chariot  from  Ephraim 
And  the  horse  from  Jerusalem, 

And  the  battle-bow  shall  be  cut  off. 

He  shall  speak  peace  to  the  heathen; 

And  his  dominion  shall  be  from  sea  even  to  sea, 

And  from  the  River  even  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

As  for  thee  also,  by  the  blood  of  thy  covenant, 

I  have  sent  forth  thy  prisoners  out  of  the  pit  wherein  is 
no  water. 

Turn  you  to  the  stronghold,  ye  prisoners  of  hope: 

Even  today  do  I  declare,  “I  will  render  double  unto  thee.” 


THERE  SHALL  BE  ONE  LORD 

Ezekiel  speaks  of  the  River  of  Life  as  flowing  from  the  Temple  down  to 
the  Dead  Sea.  This  prophetic  writer  sees  that  stream  flowing  both  to 
the  western  and  the  eastern  seas,  and  perennially,  summer  and  winter. 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 

That  the  light  shall  not  be  clear,  nor  dark; 


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“AT  EVENING-TIME  IT  SHALL  BE  LIGHT” 


ANTICIPATION  OF  THE  MESSIAH 


109 


But  it  shall  be  one  day  that  is  known  to  the  Lord, 

Not  day,  nor  night; 

But  it  shall  come  to  pass, 

That  at  evening-time  it  shall  be  light. 

And  it  shall  be  in  that  day 

That  living  waters  shall  go  out  from  Jerusalem; 

Half  of  them  toward  the  eastern  sea, 

And  half  of  them  toward  the  western  sea; 

In  summer  and  in  winter  shall  it  be. 

And  the  Lord  shall  be  King  over  all  the  earth: 

In  that  day  there  shall  be  one  Lord,  and  his  name  oneo 

PROPHETS 

Made  of  unpurchasable  stuff, 

They  went  the  way  when  ways  were  rough; 

They,  when  the  traitors  had  deceived, 

Held  the  long  purpose,  and  believed; 

They,  when  the  face  of  God  grew  dim, 

Held  thro’  the  dark  and  trusted  him — 

Brave  souls  that  fought  the  mortal  way 
And  felt  that  faith  could  not  betray. 

Give  thanks  for  heroes  that  have  stirred 
Earth  with  the  wonder  of  a  word; 

But  all  thanksgiving  for  the  breed 
Who  have  blent  destiny  with  deed — 

Souls  of  the  high  heroic  birth, 

Souls  sent  to  poise  the  shaken  earth; 

And  then  called  back  to  God  again 
To  make  heaven  possible  for  men. 


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JUSTICE 

From  a  'painting  by  Raphael 

Raphael  presents  to  us  in  this  picture  the  well-known  symbols.  Justice  is  a  goddess 
seated  upon  the  clouds  of  heaven.  By  this  he  means  to  say  that  Justice  is  a  divine  attri¬ 
bute.  This  idea  is  still  further  emphasized  by  the  heavenly  cherubs  that  surround  her. 
The  goddess  carries  in  her  left  hand  the  balances,  which  here  are  evenly  poised,  symbol 
that  justice  is  nothing  if  not  exact,  equable,  impartial.  The  face  of  the  goddess  is  turned 
away  because  she  must  be  no  respecter  of  persons.  In  her  right  hand  she  carries  a  sword, 
symbol  of  the  divine  power  that  will  execute  the  judgment  awarded  by  the  scales. 


SOCIAL  IDEALS  OF  THE  HEBREWS 


SOCIAL  IDEALS  OF  THE 
HEBREWS 


“Love  the  Lord  Thy  God  .  .  .  and  Thy  Neighbor 

as  Thyself 

IT  has  been  said  that  the  discovery  that  the  great  teachers 
of  the  Jews  were  above  all  else  social  teachers  and  re¬ 
formers  is  revolutionizing  the  study  of  the  Bible.  We 
have  come  to  see  that  the  Bible  is  not  only  a  religious  book, 
but  a  social  book.  It  has  not  merely  one  great  aim,  but  two. 
It  shows  men  how  they  may  come  to  know  God  and  find  life 
and  freedom  in  his  service.  It  also  shows  how  they  may  live 
in  right  relations  with  their  fellow-men,  and  thus  develop 
that  fair  and  happy  social  order  which  we  call  the  Kingdom 
of  God. 

In  Volume  Two  we  may  read  how  the  prophets,  during  the 
troublous  days  of  Israel’s  decline,  were  ever  insisting  that 
only  as  men  showed  their  love  to  God  by  right  social  living 
could  they  have  any  assurance  of  peace  and  success.  We  may 
also  read  how  the  world-wide  Kingdom,  which  had  its  heart 
in  Israel,  is  a  kingdom  of  brotherhood. 

The  following  sayings,  chiefly  from  the  prophets,  are  cho¬ 
sen  to  bring  out,  first,  the  passionate  hatred  of  injustice 
and  oppression  in  these  great  men;  and,  second,  the  means 
that  they  foresaw  by  which  oppression  and  injustice  may  be 
brought  to  an  end,  and  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  may  triumph. 

The  sins  that  are  here  described,  and  the  miseries  and 
sorrows  that  result  from  them,  are  startlingly  modern.  Many 
of  these  indictments  might  have  been  drawn  up  by  some  of 
the  most  passionate  social  reformers  of  our  own  day. 


113 


GOD’S  ATTITUDE  TOWARD 
SOCIAL  INIQUITY 

HIS  UNCOMPROMISING  JUSTICE 

I 

THE  Lord  shall  be  for  a  sanctuary; 

But  for  a  stone  of  stumbling  and  for  a  rock  of  offense 
to  both  the  houses  of  Israel, 

And  for  a  gin  and  for  a  snare  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem. 

II 

Thou  hast  been  a  strength  to  the  poor, 

A  refuge  to  the  needy  in  his  distress, 

A  refuge  from  the  storm, 

A  shadow  from  the  heat, 

When  the  blast  of  the  terrible  ones  is  as  a  storm  against 
the  wall. 

Ill 

Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts : 

These  are  the  things  that  ye  shall  do: 

Speak  ye  every  man  the  truth  to  his  neighbor; 

Execute  the  judgment  of  truth  and  peace  in  your 
gates ; 

And  let  none  of  you  imagine  evil  in  his  heart  against 
his  neighbor; 

And  love  no  false  oath. 

IV 

He  bringeth  down  them  that  dwell  on  high; 

The  lofty  city,  he  layeth  it  low; 

He  layeth  it  low,  even  to  the  ground; 


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GOD ’S  ATTITUDE  TOWARD  SOCIAL  INIQUITY 


115 


He  bringeth  it  even  to  the  dust. 

The  foot  shall  tread  it  down;  even  the  feet  of  the  poor, 
And  the  steps  of  the  needy. 

The  way  of  the  just  is  uprightness; 

Thou,  O  Most  Upright,  dost  weigh  the  path  of  the  just. 
Yea,  in  the  way  of  thy  justice,  O  Lord,  have  we  waited 
for  thee; 

The  desire  of  our  soul  is  to  thy  name, 

And  to  the  remembrance  of  thee. 

With  my  soul  have  I  desired  thee  in  the  night; 

Yea,  with  my  spirit  within  me  will  I  seek  thee  early; 

For  when  thy  judgments  are  in  the  earth, 

The  inhabitants  of  the  world  will  learn  righteousness. 

V 

Their  land  is  full  of  silver  and  gold, 

Neither  is  there  any  end  to  their  treasures; 

Their  land  is  also  full  of  horses, 

Neither  is  there  any  end  to  their  chariots; 

Their  land  also  is  full  of  idols; 

They  worship  the  work  of  their  own  hands, 

That  which  their  own  fingers  have  made. 

The  loftiness  of  man  shall  be  bowed  down, 

And  the  haughtiness  of  men  shall  be  made  low, 

And  the  Lord  alone  shall  be  exalted, 

And  the  idols  shall  he  utterly  abolish. 

VI 

Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord, 

O  king  of  Judah,  that  sittest  upon  the  throne  of  David, 
Thou  and  thy  servants  and  thy  people  that  enter  in  by 
these  gates. 


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Thus  saith  the  Lord: 

Execute  ye  justice  and  righteousness, 

And  deliver  the  spoiled  out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor; 

And  do  no  wrong,  do  no  violence 

To  the  stranger,  the  fatherless  and  the  widow; 

Neither  shed  innocent  blood  in  this  place. 

For  if  ye  do  this  thing  indeed, 

Then  there  shall  enter  in  by  the  gates  of  this  house  kings 
sitting  upon  the  throne  of  David, 

Riding  in  chariots  and  on  horses, 

He  and  his  servants  and  his  people. 

VII 

I,  even  I,  am  he  that  comforteth  you. 

Who  art  thou,  that  thou  shouldst  be  afraid  of  a  man  that 
shall  die, 

And  of  the  son  of  man  that  shall  be  made  as  grass; 

And  forgettest  the  Lord  thy  Maker, 

Who  hath  stretched  forth  the  heavens, 

And  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth; 

And  hast  feared  continually  every  day 

Because  of  the  oppressor,  as  if  he  were  ready  to  destroy? 

And  where  is  the  fury  of  the  oppressor? 

The  captive  exile  hasteneth  that  he  may  be  loosed, 

And  that  he  should  not  die  in  the  pit, 

Nor  that  his  bread  should  fail. 

But  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God, 

That  divided  the  sea,  whose  waves  roared. 

The  Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name. 

And  I  have  put  my  words  in  thy  mouth, 

And  I  have  covered  thee  in  the  shadow  of  my  hand, 

That  I  may  plant  the  heavens, 

And  lay  the  foundations  of  the  earth, 

And  say  to  Zion,  44 Thou  art  my  people.” 


CORRUPT  LEGISLATION 

From  a  fresco  by  Elihu  Vedder 

On  the  right  the  factory  chimneys  are  belching  smoke.  Prosperity  is  in  full  blast. 
An  elderly  figure  who  evidently  controls  the  money  box  and  the  bags  at  his  feet,  the  profits 
of  the  roaring  mills,  has  taken  his  seat  beside  the  wanton  figure  of  Justice.  An  open  Book 
of  the  Law  is  on  his  lap,  but  the  aim  of  this  master  of  industry  is  to  know  the  law  only  to 
evade  it,  and  he  places  the  bag  of  gold  in  the  pan  of  the  scales  while  he  looks  intently  at  the 
face  of  Justice  to  note  the  effect.  The  eyes  of  the  goddess  are  unbandaged.  She  desires  to 
see,  for  she  is  a  respecter  of  persons  and  not  an  impartial  executive. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  picture  the  factories  stand  cold  and  empty.  A  youthful  figure 
presents  his  argument  to  the  goddess — the  argument  of  the  empty  distaff  and  the  useless 
spindle.  But  Justice,  seated  under  her  fruitful  vine,  enthroned  between  cornucopias  that 
are  bursting  with  gold,  refuses  to  listen  to  any  plea  that  has  not  a  golden  luster. 

This  picture  is  a  symbol  of  the  age-old  conflict  between  justice  and  greed,  between 
the  right  to  live  and  work,  and  the  desire  to  possess  and  dominate. 

PROTESTS  AGAINST 
CORRUPTION 

AGAINST  INDIFFERENCE  TO  SOCIAL  EVILS 

I 

YEA,  the  stork  in  the  heaven  knoweth  her  appointed 
times ; 

And  the  turtledove  and  the  crane  and  the  swallow  ob¬ 
serve  the  time  of  their  coming, 

But  my  people  know  not  the  judgment  of  the  Lord. 

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II 

They  have  healed  the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  my 
people  slightly, 

Saying,  “  Peace,  peace,”  when  there  is  no  peace. 

Were  they  ashamed  when  they  had  committed  abomina¬ 
tion?  nay,  they  were  not  at  all  ashamed,  neither  could  they 
blush;  therefore  they  shall  fall  among  them  that  fall:  at 
the  time  that  I  visit  them  they  shall  be  cast  down,  saith 
the  Lord. 

Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Stand  ye  in  the  ways,  and  see,  and 
ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the  good  way,  and  walk  there¬ 
in,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  your  souls. 

But  they  said,  “We  will  not  walk  therein.” 

Also  I  set  watchmen  over  you,  saying,  “Hearken  to  the 
sound  of  the  trumpet.” 

But  they  said,  “We  will  not  hearken.” 

The  Lord  hath  come  to  me,  and  I  have  spoken  to  you, 
rising  early  and  speaking;  but  ye  have  not  hearkened.  And 
the  Lord  hath  sent  to  you  all  his  servants  the  prophets,  rising 
early  and  sending  them;  but  ye  have  not  hearkened,  nor  in¬ 
clined  your  ear  to  hear. 

III 

The  harvest  is  past, 

The  summer  is  ended, 

And  we  are  not  saved. 

Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead? 

Is  there  no  physician  there? 

IV 

Oh  that  I  had  in  the  wilderness  a 
lodging  place  of  wayfaring  men; 

That  I  might  leave  my  people,  and 
go  from  them. 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


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V 

In  that  day  did  the  Lord  God  of 
hosts  call  to  weeping, 

And  to  mourning,  and  to  baldness, 
and  to  girding  with  sackcloth; 

And  behold,  joy  and  gladness, 

Slaying  oxen  and  killing  sheep, 

Eating  flesh  and  drinking  wine: 

Let  us  eat  and  drink, 

For  tomorrow  we  shall  die.” 

AGAINST  THOSE  VYHO  MISTREAT  THE  LABORER 

I 

The  Lord  will  enter  into  judgment  with  the  elders  of 
his  people, 

And  the  princes  thereof; 

For  ye  have  eaten  up  the  vineyard: 

The  spoil  of  the  poor  is  in  your  houses. 

What  mean  ye  that  ye  beat  my  people  to  pieces, 

And  grind  the  faces  of  the  poor? 

II 

Woe  to  him  that  buildeth  a  town  with  blood, 

And  establisheth  a  city  by  iniquity! 

Behold,  it  is  not  from  the  Lord  of  hosts, 

That  the  people  shall  labor  in  the  very  fire, 

And  the  people  wear  themselves  out  for  very  vanity! 

But  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
glory  of  the  Lord, 

As  the  waters  cover  the  sea. 

III 

Woe  to  him  [King  Jehoiakim]  that  buildeth  his  house 
by  unrighteousness, 


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And  his  chambers  by  wrong! 

That  usetli  his  neighbor’s  service  without  wages, 

And  giveth  him  not  for  his  work; 

That  saith,  “I  will  build  me  a  wide  house  and  large 
chambers”; 

And  cutteth  him  out  windows; 

And  it  is  ceiled  with  cedar,  and  painted  with  vermi¬ 
lion. 

Slialt  thou  reign,  because  thou  incloses t  thyself  in  cedar? 

Did  not  thy  father  [King  Josiah]  eat  and  drink,  and 
exercise  justice? 

Then  it  was  well  with  him. 

He  judged  the  cause  of  the  poor  and  needy: 

Then  it  was  well  with  him. 

“W  as  not  this  to  know  me?”  saith  the  Lord. 

But  thine  eyes  and  thy  heart  are  not  but  for  thy 
covetousness, 

And  to  shed  innocent  blood,  and  for  oppression, 

And  for  violence,  to  do  it. 

AGAINST  THOSE  WHO  DEFRAUD  THE  POOR 

I 

There  are  those  that  remove  the  landmarks: 

They  violently  take  away  flocks,  and  feed  thereof; 
They  drive  away  the  ass  of  the  fatherless; 

They  take  the  widow’s  ox  for  a  pledge; 

They  turn  the  needy  out  of  the  way. 

The  poor  of  the  earth  hide  themselves  together. 
Behold,  as  wild  asses  in  the  desert, 

They  go  forth  to  their  work,  rising  early  for  food; 
The  wilderness  yieldeth  food  for  them  and  for 
their  children. 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


121 


They  reap  every  one  his  grain  in  the  field; 

And  they  gather  the  vintage  of  the  wicked. 

They  cause  the  naked  to  lodge  without  clothing, 
That  they  have  no  covering  in  the  cold. 

They  are  wet  with  the  showers  of  the  mountains, 
And  embrace  the  rock  for  want  of  a  shelter. 

There  are  those  that  pluck  the  fatherless  from  the 
breast, 

And  take  a  pledge  of  the  poor: 

They  cause  him  to  go  naked  without  clothing; 
And  they  take  away  the  sheaf  from  the  hungry, 
Who  make  oil  within  their  walls, 

And  tread  their  winepresses,  and  suffer  thirst. 

Men  groan  from  out  of  the  city, 

And  the  soul  of  the  wounded  crieth  out. 

They  are  of  those  that  rebel  against  the  light; 
They  know  not  the  ways  thereof, 

Nor  abide  in  the  paths  thereof. 

The  murderer  riseth  with  the  light; 

He  killeth  the  poor  and  needy; 

And  in  the  night  he  is  as  a  thief. 

The  eye  also  of  the  adulterer  waiteth  for  the 
twilight, 

Saying,  “No  eye  shall  see  me”: 

And  he  disguiseth  his  face. 

In  the  dark  they  dig  through  houses, 

Which  they  had  marked  for  themselves  in  the 
daytime. 

They  know  not  the  light: 

For  the  morning  is  to  them  as  the  shadow  of  death ; 
For  they  know  the  terrors  of  darkness. 


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II 

Hear  this,  O  ye  that  swallow  up  the  needy, 

Even  to  make  the  poor  of  the  land  to  fail, 

Saying:  4 ‘When  will  the  new  moon  be  gone,  that  we 
may  sell  grain? 

And  the  sabbath,  that  we  may  set  forth  wheat 
(Making  the  measure  small,  and  the  shekel  great, 
And  falsifying  the  balances  by  deceit) ; 

That  we  may  buy  the  poor  for  silver, 

And  the  needy  for  a  pair  of  shoes; 

YYa,  and  sell  the  refuse  of  the  wheat?” 

Ill 

Woe  to  him  that  coveteth  an  evil  covetous¬ 
ness  to  his  house, 

That  he  may  set  his  nest  on  high, 

That  he  may  be  delivered  from  the  power  of 
evil! 

Thou  hast  consulted  shame  to  thy  house 
By  cutting  off  many  people, 

And  thou  hast  sinned  against  thy  soul. 

For  the  stone  shall  cry  out  of  the  wall, 

And  the  beam  out  of  the  timber  shall  answer  it. 

IV 

Forasmuch  as  your  treading  is  upon  the  poor, 

And  ye  take  from  them  burdens  of  wheat: 

Ye  have  built  houses  of  hewn  stone, 

But  ye  shall  not  dwell  in  them; 

Ye  have  planted  pleasant  vineyards, 

But  ye  shall  not  drink  wine  of  them. 

For  I  know  your  manifold  transgressions  and 
your  mighty  sins, 

Ye  that  afflict  the  just, 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


123 


That  take  a  bribe, 

And  that  turn  aside  the  poor  in  the  gate  from 
their  right. 

Therefore  the  prudent  shall  keep  silence  in  that  time; 
For  it  is  an  evil  time. 

Seek  good,  and  not  evil,  that  ye  may  live; 

And  so  the  Lord,  the  God  of  hosts,  shall  be  with 
you,  as  ye  have  spoken. 

Hate  the  evil,  and  love  the  good, 

And  establish  judgment  in  the  gate. 

It  may  be  that  the  Lord  of  hosts 

Will  be  gracious  to  the  remnant  of  Joseph. 

Therefore  the  Lord,  the  God  of  hosts,  the  Lord, 
saith  thus: 

“  Wailing  shall  be  in  all  streets, 

And  they  shall  say  in  all  the  highways,  ‘Alas!  alas!’ 
They  shall  call  the  husbandman  to  mourning, 

And  such  as  are  skilful  of  lamentation  to  wailing. 

In  all  vineyards  shall  be  wailing, 

For  I  will  pass  through  thee,”  saith  the  Lord. 

Woe  unto  you  that  desire  the  day  of  the  Lord! 

To  what  end  is  it  for  you? 

The  day  of  the  Lord  is  darkness,  and  not  light: 

As  if  a  man  did  flee  from  a  lion, 

And  a  bear  met  him; 

Or  went  into  the  house,  and  leaned  his  hand  on 
the  wall, 

And  a  serpent  bit  him. 

Shall  not  the  day  of  the  Lord  be  darkness,  and 
not  light? 

Even  very  dark,  and  no  brightness  in  it? 

«  r 

“The  people  of  the  land  have  used  oppression,  and  exer¬ 
cised  robbery,  and  have  vexed  the  poor  and  needy:  yea, 


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they  have  oppressed  the  stranger  wrongfully.  And  I  sought 
for  a  man  among  them,  that  should  make  up  the  hedge, 
and  stand  in  the  gap  before  me  for  the  land,  that  I  should 
not  destroy  it:  but  I  found  none. 

“Therefore  have  I  poured  out  mine  indignation  upon  them ; 
I  have  consumed  them  with  the  fire  of  my  wrath:  their  own 
way  have  I  recompensed  upon  their  heads,”  saith  the  Lord 
God. 

Thus  speaketh  the  Lord  of  hosts,  saying,  “Execute  true 
judgment,  and  show  mercy  and  compassion  every  man  to 
his  brother:  and  oppress  not  the  widow,  nor  the  fatherless, 
the  stranger,  nor  the  poor;  and  let  none  of  you  imagine  evil 
against  his  brother  in  his  heart.” 

But  they  refused  to  hearken,  and  pulled  away  the  shoulder, 
and  stopped  their  ears,  that  they  should  not  hear. 

Yea,  they  made  their  hearts  as  an  adamant  stone,  lest 
they  should  hear  the  law,  and  the  words  which  the  Lord  of 
hosts  hath  sent  in  his  spirit  by  the  former  prophets:  therefore 
came  a  great  wrath  from  the  Lord  of  hosts. 

THE  NEED  FOR  MEN 

God  give  us  men!  A  time  like  this  demands 

Strong  minds,  great  hearts,  true  faith,  and  willing  hands; 

Men  whom  the  lust  of  office  does  not  kill; 

Men  whom  the  spoils  of  office  cannot  buy; 

Men  who  possess  opinions  and  a  will; 

Men  who  have  honor;  men  who  will  not  lie; 

Men  who  can  stand  before  a  demagogue 

And  damn  his  treacherous  flatteries  without  winking; 

Tall  men,  sun-crowned,  who  live  above  the  fog 
In  public  duty  and  in  private  thinking. 

For  while  the  rabble  with  their  thumb-worn  creeds, 

Their  large  professions  and  their  little  deeds, 

Mingle  in  selfish  strife,  lo,  Freedom  weeps! 

Wrong  rules  the  land,  and  waiting  justice  sleeps! 

— J.  G.  Holland 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


125 


AGAINST  INJUSTICE 

Behold,  the  Lord’s  hand  is  not  shortened, 
that  it  cannot  save, 

Nor  his  ear  heavy,  that  it  cannot  hear. 

But  your  iniquities  have  separated  between 
you  and  your  God, 

And  your  sins  have  hid  his  face  from  you, 

That  he  will  not  hear. 

For  your  hands  are  defiled  with  blood, 

And  your  fingers  with  iniquity: 

Your  lips  have  spoken  lies; 

Your  tongue  hath  muttered  perverseness. 

None  calleth  for  justice, 

Nor  any  pleadeth  for  truth: 

They  trust  in  vanity,  and  speak  lies; 

They  conceive  mischief,  and  bring  forth  iniquity. 
They  hatch  adders’  eggs, 

And  weave  the  spider’s  web: 

He  that  eateth  of  their  eggs  dieth, 

And  that  which  is  crushed  breaketh  out  into  a  viper. 
Their  webs  shall  not  become  garments, 

Neither  shall  they  cover  themselves  with 
their  works: 

Their  works  are  works  of  iniquity, 

And  the  act  of  violence  is  in  their  hands. 

Their  feet  run  to  evil, 

And  they  make  haste  to  shed  innocent  blood. 

Their  thoughts  are  thoughts  of  iniquity: 

Wasting  and  destruction  are  in  their  paths. 

The  way  of  peace  they  know  not, 

And  there  is  no  justice  in  their  goings. 

They  have  made  them  crooked  paths: 

Whatsoever  goeth  therein  shall  not  know  peace. 


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Therefore  is  judgment  far  from  us, 

Neither  doth  justice  overtake  us: 

We  wait  for  light,  but  behold  obscurity; 
For  brightness,  but  we  walk  in  darkness. 
We  grope  for  the  wall  like  the  blind, 

Yea,  we  grope  as  if  we  had  no  eyes. 

We  roar  all  like  bears, 

And  mourn  sadly  like  doves. 

We  look  for  justice,  but  there  is  none; 

For  salvation,  but  it  is  far  from  us. 

AGAINST  CORRUPT  JUDGES 

I 

Ye  who  turn  judgment  to  wormwood, 

And  cast  down  righteousness  to  the  earth, 
Seek  him  that  maketh  the  Pleiades  and 
Orion, 

And  turneth  the  shadow  of  death  into  the 
morning, 

And  maketh  the  day  dark  with  night; 

That  calleth  for  the  waters  of  the  sea,  and 
poureth  them  out 
Upon  the  face  of  the  earth: 

The  Lord  is  his  name. 

Shall  horses  run  upon  the  rock? 

Will  one  plow  there  with  oxen? 

For  ye  have  turned  judgment  into  gall, 

And  the  fruit  of  righteousness  into  hemlock. 

II 

Hear,  I  pray  you,  O  heads  of  Jacob, 

And  ye  princes  of  the  house  of  Israel; 

Is  it  not  for  you  to  know  justice? 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


127 


Who  hate  the  good,  and  love  the  evil; 

Who  pluck  off  their  skin  from  them, 

And  their  flesh  from  off  their  bones; 

Who  also  eat  the  flesh  of  my  people, 

And  flay  their  skin  from  off  them. 

They  break  their  bones,  and  chop  them  in 
pieces, 

As  for  the  pot,  and  as  flesh  within  the  cal¬ 
dron. 

Then  shall  they  cry  to  the  Lord,  but  he 
will  not  hear  them; 

He  will  even  hide  his  face  from  them  at 
that  time, 

Because  they  have  behaved  themselves  ill 
in  their  doings. 

Ill 

Woe  to  them  that  decree  unrighteous  de¬ 
crees, 

And  to  the  writers  that  write  perverseness: 

To  turn  aside  the  needy  from  judgment, 

And  to  take  away  the  right  of  the  poor  of 
my  people, 

That  widows  may  be  their  spoil, 

That  they  may  make  the  fatherless  their 
prey! 

And  what  will  ye  do  in  the  day  of  visitation, 

And  in  the  desolation  which  shall  come 
from  far? 

To  whom  will  ye  flee  for  help? 

And  where  will  ye  leave  your  glory? 

Without  me  they  shall  bow  down  under 
the  prisoners, 

They  shall  fall  under  the  slain. 


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For  all  this  his  anger  is  not  turned  away, 
But  his  hand  is  stretched  out  still! 

AGAINST  BRIBERY  AND  GRAFT 

I 

Thy  princes  are  rebellious, 

And  companions  of  thieves. 

Every  one  loveth  bribes, 

And  folio weth  after  rewards. 

They  judge  not  the  fatherless; 

Neither  doth  the  cause  of  the  widow  come 
to  them. 

II 

Hear  this,  I  pray  you,  ye  heads  of  the  house 
of  Jacob, 

And  ye  princes  of  the  house  of  Israel, 

Who  abhor  justice, 

And  pervert  all  equity; 

Who  build  up  Zion  with  blood, 

And  Jerusalem  with  iniquity. 

The  heads  thereof  judge  for  reward, 

And  the  priests  thereof  give  oracles  for  a 
hire, 

And  her  prophets  thereof  divine  for  money: 
Yet  will  they  lean  upon  the  Lord,  and  say, 
“Is  not  the  Lord  among  us? 

No  evil  can  come  upon  us.” 

Therefore  shall  Zion  for  your  sakes 
Be  plowed  as  a  field, 

And  Jerusalem  shall  become  heaps  of  ruins, 
And  the  mountain  of  the  house  as  the  high 
places  of  the  forest. 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


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AGAINST  THE  SINS  OF  WEALTH  AND  LUXURY 

I 

Woe  to  them  that  join  house  to  house, 

And  lay  field  to  field, 

Till  there  be  no  more  room, 

That  they  may  be  placed  alone  in  the  midst  of 
the  land! 

In  mine  ears  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 

“Of  a  truth  many  houses  shall  be  desolate, 

Even  great  and  fair,  without  inhabitant.” 

Woe  to  them  that  rise  up  early  in  the  morning, 

That  they  may  follow  strong  drink, 

That  continue  till  night,  till  wine  inflame 
them ! 18 

And  the  harp  and  the  viol, 

The  tabret  and  flute,  and  wine,  are  in  their 

feasts; 

But  they  regard  not  the  work  of  the  Lord, 

Neither  consider  the  operation  of  his  hands. 

Therefore  my  people  are  gone  into  captivity 
Because  they  have  no  knowledge; 

Their  nobles  are  famished, 

And  their  multitude  dried  up  with  thirst. 

Woe  to  them  that  are  mighty  to  drink  wine, 

And  men  of  strength  to  mingle  strong  drink! 

II 

Woe  to  them  that  are  at  ease  in  Zion, 

T1  lat  trust  in  the  mount  of  Samaria; 

That  put  far  away  the  evil  day, 

And  cause  the  seat  of  violence  to  come  near; 

That  lie  upon  beds  of  ivory, 


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And  stretch  themselves  upon  their  couches; 

That  eat  the  lambs  out  of  the  flock, 

And  the  calves  out  of  the  midst  of  the  stall; 
That  chant  to  the  sound  of  the  viol, 

And  invent  to  themselves  instruments  of  music, 
like  David; 

That  drink  wine  in  bowls, 

And  anoint  themselves  with  the  chief  ointments: 
But  they  are  not  grieved  for  the  affliction  of 
Joseph. 

AGAINST  INTEMPERANCE 

I 

“Come  ye,”  say  they,  “I  will  fetch  wine, 

And  we  will  fill  ourselves  with  strong  drink; 

And  tomorrow  shall  be  as  this  day — 

And  much  more  abundant!” 

II 

Woe  to  him  that  giveth  his  neighbor  drink; 

To  thee  that  puttest  thy  bottle  to  him, 

And  makest  him  drunken  also 

That  thou  mayest  gloat  on  his  nakedness! 

Thou  art  filled  with  shame — not  with  glory; 
Drink  also  thou,  and  stagger. 

The  cup  of  the  Lord’s  right  hand  shall  come 
round  to  thee, 

And  foul  shame  shall  be  on  thy  glory. 

For  the  violence  done  to  Lebanon  shall  cover 
thee, 

The  destruction  of  beasts  shall  affright  thee, 
Because  of  men’s  blood,  and  the  violence  to 
the  land, 

To  the  city  and  all  that  dwell  therein. 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


131 


III 

The  people  have  erred  through  wine; 

Through  strong  drink  they  are  out  of  the  way. 
The  priest  and  the  prophet  have  erred  through 
strong  drink; 

They  are  swallowed  up  of  wine; 

They  are  out  of  the  way  through  strong  drink; 
They  err  in  vision,  they  stumble  in  judgment. 

IV 

Woe  to  the  crown  of  pride, 

To  the  drunkards  of  Ephraim, 

Whose  glorious  beauty  is  a  fading  flower, 

Which  are  on  the  head  of  the  fat  valley19  of  them 
that  are  overcome  with  wine! 

Behold,  the  Lord  hath  a  mighty  and  strong  one, 
Which  as  a  tempest  of  hail  and  a  destroying  storm, 
As  a  flood  of  mighty  waters  overflowing, 

Shall  cast  down  to  the  earth  with  the  hand. 

The  crown  of  pride,  the  drunkards  of  Ephraim, 
Shall  be  trodden  under  feet: 

And  the  glorious  beauty, 

Which  is  on  the  head  of  the  fat  valley. 

Shall  be  a  fading  flower, 

And  as  the  hasty  fruit  before  the  summer; 

Which  when  he  that  looketh  upon  it  seeth, 

While  it  is  yet  in  his  hand  he  eateth  it  up. 

AGAINST  IDOLATRY 

I 

Seest  thou  not  what  they  do  in  the  cities  of 
Judah, 

And  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem? 


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The  children  gather  wood, 

And  the  fathers  kindle  the  fire, 

And  the  women  knead  their  dough, 

To  make  cakes  to  the  queen  of  heaven,20 
And  to  pour  out  drink  offerings  to  other  gods, 

That  they  may  provoke  me  to  anger. 

Do  they  provoke  me  to  anger? 

Do  they  not  provoke  themselves  to  the  con¬ 
fusion  of  their  own  faces? 

II 

Then  said  he  to  me,  “Son  of  man,  lift  up  thine  eyes  now 
the  way  toward  the  north.” 

So  I  lifted  up  mine  eyes  the  way  toward  the  north,  and 
behold,  northward  at  the  gate  of  the  altar  this  image  of 
jealousy  in  the  entry. 

He  said  furthermore  to  me,  “Son  of  man,  seest  thou 
what  they  do?  even  the  great  abominations  that  the  house 
of  Israel  committeth  here,  that  I  should  go  far  off  from  my 
sanctuary?  but  turn  thee  yet  again,  and  thou  shalt  see 
greater  abominations.” 

And  he  brought  me  to  the  door  of  the  court;  and  when 
I  looked,  behold  a  hole  in  the  wall. 

Then  said  he  to  me,  “Son  of  man,  dig  now  in  the  wall.” 
And  when  I  had  digged  in  the  wall,  behold  a  door. 

And  he  said  to  me,  “Go  in,  and  behold  the  wicked 
abominations  that  they  do  here.” 

So  I  went  in  and  saw;  and  behold,  every  form  of  creep¬ 
ing  things,  and  abominable  beasts,  and  all  the  idols  of  the 
house  of  Israel,  portrayed  upon  the  wall  round  about.  And 
there  stood  before  them  seventy  men  of  the  elders  of  the 
house  of  Israel,  and  in  the  midst  of  them  stood  Jaazaniah 
the  son  of  Shaphan,  with  every  man  his  censer  in  his  hand; 
and  a  thick  cloud  of  incense  went  up. 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


133 


DEVOTEES  WORSHIPING  COBRA  IDOLS 

Everywhere  in  India  one  sees  these  objects  of  popular  veneration.  Usually  they  are 
placed  under  the  village  tree  so  that  the  villagers  may  easily  come  to  present  their  offerings, 
milk  and  ghi  (clarified  butter)  and  the  petals  of  the  marigold.  These  are  poured  or  placed 
on  the  representation  of  the  divinity.  No  matter  how  small  the  offering,  it  is  always  acceptable. 

As  the  cobra  is  to  be  feared  because  of  its  tooth  of  death,  so  these  idols  represent  those 
malignant  influences  of  the  unseen  world  which  man  must  propitiate  if  he  would  continue 
to  be  fortunate.  Low-caste  religion  is  a  religion  of  fear. 


Then  said  he  to  me,  “Son  of  man,  hast  thou  seen  what 
the  ancients  of  the  house  of  Israel  do  in  the  dark,  every 
man  in  the  chambers  of  his  imagery?  for  they  say,  ‘The 
Lord  seeth  us  not;  the  Lord  hath  forsaken  the  earth.’" 

He  said  also  to  me,  “Turn  thee  yet  again,  and  thou 
shalt  see  greater  abominations  that  they  do.” 

Then  he  brought  me  to  the  door  of  the  gate  of  the  Lord's 
house  which  was  toward  the  north;  and  behold,  there  sat 
women  weeping  for  Tammuz  [Adonis].21 

Then  said  he  to  me,  “Hast  thou  seen  this,  O  son  of  man? 
turn  thee  yet  again,  and  thou  shalt  see  greater  abominations 
than  these.” 

And  he  brought  me  into  the  inner  court  of  the  Lord’s 
house,  and  behold,  at  the  door  of  the  temple  of  the  Lord, 


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between  the  porch  and  the  altar,  were  about  twenty-five 
men,  with  their  backs  toward  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  and 
their  faces  toward  the  east;  and  they  worshiped  the  sun 
toward  the  east. 

Then  he  said  to  me:  “Hast  thou  seen  this,  O  son  of  man? 
Is  it  a  light  thing  to  the  house  of  Judah  that  they  commit 
the  abominations  which  they  commit  here?  for  they  have 
filled  the  land  with  violence,  and  have  returned  to  provoke 
me  to  anger:  and,  lo,  they  put  the  branch  to  their  nose. 
Therefore  will  I  also  deal  in  fury:  mine  eye  shall  not  spare, 
neither  will  I  have  pity:  and  though  they  cry  in  mine  ears 
with  a  loud  voice,  yet  will  I  not  hear  them.” 

Ill 

What  profiteth  the  graven  image 

That  the  maker  thereof  hath  graven  it; 

The  molten  image,  and  a  teacher  of  lies, 

That  the  maker  of  his  work  trusteth  therein, 

To  make  dumb  idols? 

Woe  to  him  that  saith  to  the  wood,  “Awake!” 

To  the  dumb  stone,  “Arise!”  Shall  this  teach? 

Behold,  it  is  laid  over  with  gold  and  silver, 

And  there  is  no  breath  at  all  in  the  midst 
of  it. 

But  the  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple: 

Let  all  the  earth  keep  silence  before  him. 

Thy  calf,  O  Samaria,  hath  cast  thee  off; 

Mine  anger  is  kindled  against  them: 

How  long  will  it  be  ere  they  attain  to  inno- 
cency  ? 

For  from  Israel  was  it  also: 

The  workman  made  it;  therefore  it  is  not  God: 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


135 


©Underwood  &  Underwood 


MODERN  WAYSIDE  IDOLS,  SOUTH  INDIA 

But  the  calf  of  Samaria22  shall  be  broken 
in  pieces. 

For  they  have  sown  the  wind, 

And  they  shall  reap  the  whirlwind. 

It  hath  no  stalk: 

The  bud  shall  yield  no  meal: 

If  so  be  it  yield,  the  strangers  shall  swallow  it  up. 

Because  Ephraim  hath  made  many  altars  to  sin,  altars 
shall  be  to  him  to  sin. 

I  have  written  to  him  the  great  things  of  my  law,  but 
they  were  counted  as  a  strange  thing. 

They  sacrifice  flesh  for  the  sacrifices  of  mine  offerings, 
and  eat  it;  but  the  Lord  accepteth  them  not.  Now  will  he 
remember  their  iniquity,  and  visit  their  sins:  they  shall  re¬ 
turn  to  Egypt. 

For  Israel  hath  forgotten  his  Maker,  and  buildeth  temples; 
and  Judah  hath  multiplied  fenced  cities:  but  I  will  send  a 
fire  upon  his  cities,  and  it  shall  devour  the  palaces  thereof. 


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I  found  Israel  like  grapes  in  the  wilderness;  I  saw  your 
fathers  as  the  first-ripe  in  the  fig  tree  at  her  first  time :  but 
they  went  to  Baal-peor,  and  separated  themselves  to  that 
shame;  and  their  abominations  were  according  as  they 
loved. 

AGAINST  SINS  IN  GOD’S  HOUSE 

I 

44  Behold,  ye  trust  in  lying  words,  that  cannot  profit. 
Will  ye  steal,  murder,  and  commit  adultery,  and  swear 
falsely,  and  burn  incense  to  Baal,  and  walk  after  other  gods 
whom  ye  know  not;  and  come  and  stand  before  me  in  this 
house,  which  is  called  by  my  name,  and  say,  4  We  are  delivered 
to  do  all  these  abominations’?  Is  this  house,  which  is  called 
by  my  name,  become  a  den  of  robbers  in  your  eyes?  Behold, 
even  I  have  seen  it,”  saith  the  Lord. 

44  And  now,  because  ye  have  done  all  these  works,”  saith 
the  Lord,  44 and  I  spoke  to  you,  rising  up  early  and  speak¬ 
ing,  but  ye  heard  not;  and  I  called  you,  but  ye  answered 
not:  therefore  will  I  do  to  this  house,  which  is  called  by 
my  name,  wherein  ye  trust,  and  to  the  place  which  I  gave 
to  you  and  to  your  fathers,  as  I  have  done  to  Shiloh.  I  will 
cast  you  out  of  my  sight,  as  I  have  cast  out  all  your  brethren, 
even  all  the  descendants  of  Ephraim.  Therefore  pray  not 
thou  for  this  people,  neither  lift  up  cry  nor  prayer  for  them, 
neither  make  intercession  to  me:  for  I  will  not  hear  thee.” 

II 

Now  go:  write  it  before  them  on  a  tablet, 

And  note  it  in  a  book, 

That  it  may  be  for  the  time  to  come  forever  and  ever: 

That  this  is  a  rebellious  people,  lying  children, 

Children  that  will  not  hear  the  law  of  the  Lord: 

Who  say  to  the  seers,  44  See  not,” 

And  to  the  prophets,  44  Prophesy  not  to  us  right  things, 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


137 


Speak  to  us  smooth  things,  prophesy  deeeits; 

Get  you  out  of  the  way, 

Turn  aside  out  of  the  path, 

Cause  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  to  cease  from  before  us.” 
Because  ye  despise  this  word, 

And  trust  in  oppression  and  perverseness,  and  stay  thereon, 
Therefore  this  iniquity  shall  be  to  you  as  a  breach  ready 
to  fall, 

The  swelling  out  in  a  high  wall, 

Whose  breaking  cometh  suddenly  in  an  instant. 

And  he  shall  break  it  as  the  breaking  of  the  potter’s  vessel 
that  is  broken  in  pieces; 

He  shall  not  spare; 

So  that  there  shall  not  be  found  in  the  bursting  of  it  a 
potsherd 

Wherewith  to  take  fire  from  the  hearth, 

Or  to  take  water  withal  out  of  the  pot. 

AGAINST  FALSE  PROPHETS 

I 

The  prophet  that  hath  a  dream,  let  him  tell  a  dream; 

And  he  that  hath  my  word  let  him  speak  my  word  faith¬ 
fully. 

What  is  the  chaff  to  the  wheat? 

Is  not  my  word  like  as  a  fire? 

And  like  a  hammer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces? 

Therefore,  behold,  I  am  against  the  prophets  that  steal 
my  words  every  one  from  his  neighbor. 

Behold,  I  am  against  the  prophets  that  use  their  tongues, 
and  say,  “He  saith.” 

Behold,  I  am  against  them  that  prophesy  false  dreams, 

And  do  tell  them,  and  cause  my  people  to  err 


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By  their  lies,  and  their  lightness: 

Yet  I  sent  them  not,  nor  commanded  them; 

Therefore  they  shall  not  profit  this  people  at  all. 

II 

Set  thy  face  against  the  daughters  of  thy  people, 

Who  prophesy  out  of  their  own  heart; 

And  prophesy  thou  against  them, 

And  say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God: 

Woe  to  the  women  that  sew  pillows  upon  all  elbows, 

And  make  kerchiefs  for  the  head  of  persons  of  every  stature 
to  hunt  souls! 

“Will  ye  hunt  the  souls  of  my  people, 

And  will  ye  save  the  souls  alive  that  come  to  you? 

And  will  ye  pollute  me  among  my  people 
For  handfuls  of  barley  and  for  pieces  of  bread, 

To  slay  the  souls  that  should  not  die, 

And  to  save  the  souls  alive  that  should  not  live, 

By  your  lying  to  my  people  that  hear  your  lies? 

Because  with  lies  ye  have  made  the  heart  of  the  righteous  sad, 
Whom  I  have  not  made  sad, 

And  strengthened  the  hands  of  the  wicked, 

That  he  should  not  return  from  his  wickedness, 

By  promising  him  life: 

Therefore  ye  shall  see  no  more  vanity, 

Nor  divine  divinations, 

For  I  will  deliver  my  people  out  of  your  hand. 

And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord.” 

III 

A  wonderful  and  horrible  thing  is  committed  in  the  land: 
the  prophets  prophesy  falsely,  and  the  priests  bear  rule  by 
their  means;  and  my  people  love  to  have  it  so:  and  what 
will  ye  do  in  the  end  thereof? 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


139 


There  is  a  conspiracy  of  her  prophets  in  the  midst  thereof, 
like  a  roaring  lion  ravening  the  prey:  they  have  devoured 
souls;  they  have  taken  the  treasure  and  precious  things; 
they  have  made  her  many  widows  in  the  midst  thereof. 

And  her  prophets  have  daubed  them  with  untempered 
mortar,  seeing  vanity,  and  divining  lies  to  them,  saying, 
'‘Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,”  when  the  Lord  hath  not 
spoken. 

AGAINST  THE  SINS  OF  THE  NORTHERN 

NATION 

I 

O  Ephraim,  what  shall  I  do  to  thee?  O  Judah,  what 
shall  I  do  to  thee?  for  your  goodness  is  as  a  morning  cloud, 
and  as  the  early  dew  it  goeth  away.  Therefore  have  I  hewed 
them  by  the  prophets;  I  have  slain  them  by  the  words  of 
my  mouth:  and  thy  judgments  are  as  the  light  that  goeth 
forth.  For  I  desired  mercy,  and  not  sacrifice;  and  the 
knowledge  of  God  more  than  burnt  offerings.  But  they 
like  men  have  transgressed  the  covenant:  there  have  they 
dealt  treacherously  against  me. 

Gilead  is  a  city  of  them  that  work  iniquity,  and  is  polluted 
with  blood.  And  as  troops  of  robbers  wait  for  a  man,  so  the 
company  of  priests  murder  in  the  way  toward  Shechem. 

When  I  would  have  healed  Israel,  then  the  iniquity  of 
Ephraim  was  discovered,  and  the  wickedness  of  Samaria: 
for  they  commit  falsehood;  and  the  thief  cometh  in,  and 
the  troop  of  robbers  spoileth  without.  And  they  consider 
not  in  their  hearts  that  I  remember  all  their  wickedness: 
now  their  own  doings  have  beset  them  about;  they  are 
before  my  face.  They  make  the  king  glad  with  their  wicked¬ 
ness,  and  the  princes  with  their  lies. 

In  the  day  of  our  king,  the  princes  have  made  him  sick 
with  bottles  of  wine;  he  stretched  out  his  hand  with  scorners. 


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ANARCHY 

From  a  fresco  by  Elihu  Vedder 

The  artist  has  pictured  anarchy  by  using  the  symbols  of  the  three  furies.  The  central 
figure  has  the  snaky  locks  which  frighten  the  beholder.  In  one  hand  she  bears  the  wine  cup, 
the  source  of  her  frenzy,  in  the  other  the  firebrand  with  which  to  consume  the  world.  Every¬ 
where  one  sees  the  results  of  anarchy.  The  tree  in  the  background  is  dead,  the  work  of  the 
builder  is  wantonly  destroyed,  the  strings  of  the  lyre  are  snapped,  the  scrolls  of  the  poet  are 
trampled  under  foot,  the  wheels  of  industry  are  broken. 


For  they  have  made  ready  their  heart  like  an  oven,  while 
they  lie  in  wait:  their  baker  sleepeth  all  the  night;  in  the 
morning  it  burneth  as  a  flaming  fire. 

They  are  all  hot  as  an  oven,  and  have  devoured  their 
judges;  all  their  kings  are  fallen:  there  is  none  among  them 
that  calleth  to  me. 

II 

Ephraim  hath  mixed  himself  among  the  people; 

Ephraim  is  a  cake  not  turned. 

Strangers  have  devoured  his  strength,  and  he  knoweth  it 
not; 

Yea,  gray  hairs  are  here  and  there  upon  him,  yet  he 
knoweth  it  not. 

And  the  pride  of  Israel  testifieth  to  his  face, 

And  they  do  not  return  to  the  Lord  their  God, 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


1 


Nor  seek  him  for  all  this. 

Ephraim  also  is  like  a  silly  dove  without  heart: 

They  call  to  Egypt, 

They  go  to  Assyria. 

When  they  shall  go,  I  will  spread  my  net  upon  them; 

I  will  bring  them  down  as  the  fowls  of  the  heaven; 

I  will  chastise  them,  as  their  congregation  hath  heard. 

Woe  to  them!  for  they  have  fled  from  me. 

Destruction  to  them!  because  they  have  transgressed 
against  me. 

Though  I  have  redeemed  them,  yet  have  they  spoken 
lies  against  me. 

And  they  have  not  cried  to  me  with  their  heart, 

When  they  howled  upon  their  beds; 

They  assemble  themselves  for  grain  and  wine, 

And  they  rebel  against  me. 

Though  I  have  bound  and  strengthened  their  arms, 

Yet  do  they  imagine  mischief  against  me. 

They  return,  but  not  to  the  Most  High: 

They  are  like  a  deceitful  bow; 

Their  princes  shall  fall  by  the  sword  for  the  rage  of 
their  tongue: 

This  shall  be  their  derision  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 

AGAINST  THE  CARELESS  WOMEN  OF  ISRAEL 

Rise  up,  ye  women  that  are  at  ease; 

Hear  my  voice,  ye  careless  daughters; 

Give  ear  to  my  speech. 

Many  days  and  years  shall  ye  be  troubled, 
ye  careless  women; 

For  the  vintage  shall  fail, 

The  gathering  shall  not  come. 


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THE  NIGHT  WATCH 

From  a  painting  by  Briton  Riviere 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


143 


Tremble,  ye  women  that  are  at  ease; 

Be  troubled,  ye  careless  ones; 

Strip  you,  and  make  you  bare, 

And  gird  sackcloth  upon  your  loins. 

They  shall  smite  upon  the  breasts 
For  the  pleasant  fields, 

For  the  fruitful  vine. 

Upon  the  land  of  my  people  shall  come  up 
thorns  and  briers, 

Yea,  upon  all  the  houses  of  joy  in  the 
joyous  city; 

Because  the  palaces  shall  be  forsaken, 

The  multitude  of  the  city  shall  be  left, 

The  forts  and  towers  shall  be  for  dens  forever, 

A  joy  of  wild  asses, 

A  pasture  of  flocks; 

Until  the  Spirit  be  poured  upon  us  from  on  high, 
And  the  wilderness  be  a  fruitful  field, 

And  righteousness  remain  in  the  fruitful  field. 

AGAINST  ALL  KINDS  OF  INIQUITY 

I 

Cursed  be  he  that  removeth  his  neighbor’s  landmark. 
Cursed  be  he  that  maketh  the  blind  to  wander  out  of  the 
way. 

Cursed  be  he  that  twisteth  the  justice  due  to  the  sojour¬ 
ner,  fatherless,  and  widow. 

Cursed  be  he  that  smiteth  his  neighbor  in  secret. 

Cursed  be  he  that  taketh  a  bribe  to  slay  an  innocent  person. 

II 

I  have  seen  violence  and  strife  in  the  city. 

Day  and  night  they  go  about  it  upon  the  walls  thereof. 


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Mischief  also  and  sorrow  are  in  the  midst  of  it; 

Wickedness  is  in  the  midst  thereof; 

Deceit  and  guile  depart  not  from  her  streets. 

III 

Among  my  people  are  found  wicked  men:  they  lie  in 
wait,  as  he  that  setteth  snares;  they  set  a  trap,  they  catch 
men.  As  a  cage  is  full  of  birds,  so  are  their  houses  full  of 
deceit.  They  have  become  fat,  they  shine;  yea,  they  over¬ 
pass  the  deeds  of  the  wicked.  They  judge  not  the  cause  of 
the  fatherless,  and  the  right  of  the  needy  do  they  not  defend. 

“ Shall  not  I  visit  for  such  things?”  saith  the  Lord:  “ shall 
not  my  soul  be  avenged  on  such  a  nation  as  this?” 

IV 

Woe  to  them  that  draw  iniquity  with  cords  of 
falsehood, 

And  sin  as  it  were  with  a  cart  rope; 

That  say,  “Let  him  make  speed, 

And  hasten  his  work,  that  we  may  see  it. 

Let  the  counsel  of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel 
Draw  nigh  and  come,  that  we  may  know  it!” 

Therefore  hell  hath  enlarged  herself, 

And  opened  its  mouth  without  measure; 

And  their  glory  and  their  multitude, 

And  their  pomp,  and  he  that  rejoiceth,  shall  de¬ 
scend  into  it. 

Then  shall  lambs  feed  there  as  in  their  pasture, 

And  fatlings  shall  feed  among  the  waste  places. 

V 

The  good  man  is  perished  out  of  the  earth, 

And  there  is  none  upright  among  men: 

They  all  lie  in  wait  for  blood; 

They  hunt  every  man  his  brother  with  a  net. 


14o 


PROTESTS  AGAINST  CORRUPTION 


ISAIAH 

From  a  painting  by  James  J.  Tissot 


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That  they  may  do  evil  with  both  hands  earnestly, 

The  prince  asketh,  and  the  judge  is  ready  for  a  reward; 

And  the  great  man,  he  uttereth  his  mischievous 
desire: 

Thus  they  weave  it  together. 

The  best  of  them  is  as  a  brier, 

The  most  upright  is  sharper  than  a  thorn  hedge. 

The  day  of  thy  watchmen  and  thy  visitation 
cometh : 

Now  shall  be  their  perplexity. 

Trust  ye  not  in  a  friend; 

Put  ye  not  confidence  in  a  guide; 

Iveep  the  doors  of  thy  mouth 

From  her  that  lieth  in  thy  bosom. 

For  the  son  dishonoreth  the  father; 

The  daughter  riseth  up  against  her  mother; 

The  daughter-in-law  against  her  mother-in-law; 

A  man’s  enemies  are  the  men  of  his  own  house. 

For  from  the  least  of  them  even  to  the  greatest  of  them 
every  one  is  given  to  covetousness;  and  from  the  prophet 
even  to  the  priest  every  one  dealeth  falsely.  They  have 
healed  also  the  hurt  of  my  people  slightly,  saying,  “Peace, 
peace”;  when  there  is  no  peace. 

Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  ye  children  of  Israel:  for  the 
Lord  hath  a  controversy  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  land, 
because  there  is  no  truth,  nor  mercy,  nor  knowledge  of  God 
in  the  land.  By  swearing,  and  lying,  and  killing,  and  steal¬ 
ing,  and  committing  adultery,  they  break  out,  and  blood 
toucheth  blood.  Therefore  shall  the  land  mourn,  and  every 
one  that  dwelleth  therein  shall  languish,  with  the  beasts  of 
the  field,  and  with  the  fowls  of  heaven;  yea,  the  fishes  of 
the  sea  also  shall  be  taken  away. 


GOOD  GOVERNMENT 

Fro  m  a  f  resco  by  Elih  u  Vedder 

Good  government  sits  enthroned  in  conscious  security  and  power.  Her  well-arranged 
robes,  her  braided  hair,  her  majestic  pose,  indicate  the  reign  of  order.  The  left  hand  holds 
her  wand  of  office,  and  the  right  a  tablet  whose  inscription  shows  the  source  of  her  power. 
On  her  head  is  a  living  wreath.  Behind  her,  towers  the  tree  of  life  with  its  thick,  protecting 
branches.  The  lions  crouching  under  her  throne  may  well  typify  evil  forces  subdued  and  to 
be  led.  Her  attendants  are  two  youthful  figures  whose  wings  show  their  heavenly  origin. 
One  holds  the  sword  of  righteous  action,  the  other  the  bridle  of  self-restraint. 


THE  TRIUMPH  OF  JUSTICE 


THE  COVENANT  WITH  DEATH  SHALL  FAIL 


HEAR  the  word  of  the  Lord,  ye  scorn¬ 
ful  men, 

Rulers  of  this  people  which  is  in  Jerusalem! 
Because  ye  have  said,  “We  have  made  a 
covenant  with  death, 

And  with  hell  are  we  at  agreement; 

When  the  overflowing  scourge  shall  pass 
through,  it  shall  not  come  to  us; 

For  we  have  made  lies  our  refuge, 

And  under  falsehood  have  we  hidden  ourselves”23: 
Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God: 


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44  Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  a 
stone,  a  tried  stone, 

A  precious  corner  stone,  a  sure  foundation. 

He  that  belie veth  shall  not  make  haste. 

Justice  also  will  I  lay  to  the  measuring  line, 

And  righteousness  to  the  plummet. 

Hail  shall  sweep  away  the  refuge  of  lies, 

And  the  waters  shall  overflow  the  hiding  place. 

Your  covenant  with  death  shall  be  annulled, 

And  your  agreement  with  hell  shall  not  stand: 
When  the  overflowing  scourge  shall  pass  through, 
Then  shall  ye  be  trodden  down  by  it.” 

SECRET  INIQUITY  SHALL  DECLINE 

Forasmuch  as  this  people  draw  near  me  with  their  mouth, 
And  with  their  lips  do  honor  me, 

But  have  removed  their  heart  far  from  me, 

And  their  fear  toward  me  is  taught  by  the  precept  of  men; 
Therefore,  behold,  I  will  proceed  to  do  a  marvelous  work 
among  this  people, 

Even  a  marvelous  work  and  a  wonder; 

For  the  wisdom  of  their  wise  men  shall  perish, 

And  the  understanding  of  their  prudent  men  shall  be  hid. 

Woe  to  them  that  seek  deep  to  hide  their  counsel  from  the 
Lord, 

And  their  works  are  in  the  dark, 

And  they  say,  Who  seeth  us?”  and  4 4 Who  knoweth  us?” 
Surely  your  turning  of  things  upside  down  shall  be  esteemed 
as  the  potter’s  clay; 

For  shall  the  work  say  of  him  that  made  it,  44  He  made 
me  not”? 

Or  shall  the  thing  framed  say  of  him  that  framed  it,  4  4  He 
had  no  understanding”? 


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149 


Is  it  not  a  very  little  while, 

And  Lebanon  shall  be  turned  into  a  fruitful  field, 

And  the  fruitful  field  shall  be  esteemed  as  a  forest? 

In  that  day  shall  the  deaf  hear  the  words  of  the  book, 
x4nd  the  eyes  of  the  blind  shall  see  out  of  obscurity  and 
out  of  darkness. 

The  meek  also  shall  increase  their  joy  in  the  Lord, 

And  the  poor  among  men  shall  rejoice  in  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel. 

For  the  terrible  one  is  brought  to  nought, 

And  the  scorner  is  consumed, 

And  all  that  watch  for  iniquity  are  cut  off. 

GOD  WILL  PUNISH  THE  INIQUITOUS 

I  am  sought  of  them  that  asked  not  for  me; 

I  am  found  of  them  that  sought  me  not. 

I  said,  “Behold  me,  behold  me!”  to  a  nation 
that  was  not  called  by  my  name. 

I  have  spread  out  my  hands  all  day  to  a  rebel¬ 
lious  people, 

Who  walketh  in  a  way  that  was  not  good, 

After  their  own  thoughts; 

A  people  that  provoketh  me  to  anger  continually 
to  my  face; 

That  sacrificeth  in  gardens, 

And  burneth  incense  upon  altars  of  brick; 

Who  remain  among  the  graves, 

And  lodge  in  the  secret  places; 

Who  eat  swine’s  flesh, 

And  broth  of  abominable  things  is  in  their  vessels; 

Who  say,  “Stand  by  thyself; 

Come  not  near  me,  for  I  am  holier  than  thou!” 

These  are  a  smoke  in  my  nose, 

A  fire  that  burneth  all  the  day. 


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Behold,  it  is  written  before  me: 

“I  will  not  keep  silence, 

But  will  recompense,  even  recompense  into  their 
bosom, 

Your  iniquities  and  the  iniquities  of  your 
fathers  together,”  saith  the  Lord, 

“Who  have  burned  incense  upon  the  mountains, 

And  blasphemed  me  upon  the  hills: 

Therefore  will  I  measure  their  former  work  into 
their  bosom.” 

GOD  WILL  RESCUE  HIS  FAITHFUL 

Come,  my  people,  enter  thou  into  thy  chambers. 

And  shut  thy  doors  about  thee; 

Hide  thyself  as  it  were  for  a  little  moment, 

Until  the  indignation  be  overpast. 

For  lo,  the  Lord  cometh  out  of  his  place 

To  punish  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  for  their  iniquity 

The  earth  also  shall  disclose  her  blood, 

And  shall  no  more  cover  her  slain. 

He  openeth  also  their  ear  to  instruction, 

And  commandeth  that  they  return  from  iniquity. 

If  they  hearken  and  serve  him. 

They  spend  their  days  in  prosperity. 

And  their  years  in  pleasures. 

But  if  they  hearken  not,  they  perish  by  the  sword, 

And  they  die  without  knowledge. 


METHODS  OF  SECURING  THE 

SOCIAL  GOOD 


INDIVIDUAL  RIGHTEOUSNESS 

The  Practice  of  Goodness 

SOW  to  yourselves  in  righteousness,  reap  in  mercy, 
Break  up  your  fallow  ground; 

For  it  is  time  to  seek  the  Lord, 

Till  he  come  and  rain  righteousness  upon  you! 

The  Pathway  of  Penitence 

And  they  shall  say,  44  Cast  ye  up,  cast  ye  up,  prepare  the 
way ! 24 

Take  up  the  stumbling  block  out  of  the  way  of  my  people!” 

For  thus  saith  the  high  and  lofty  One  that  inhabiteth 
eternity : 

“I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place, 

With  him  also  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit, 

To  revive  the  spirit  of  the  humble, 

And  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones. 

I  have  seen  his  ways,  and  will  heal  him; 

I  will  lead  him  also,  and  restore  comforts  to  him  and  to 
his  mourners. 

I  create  the  fruit  of  the  lips: 

‘Peace,  peace  to  him  that  is  far  off, 

And  to  him  that  is  near,’”  saith  the  Lord  God; 

“And  I  will  heal  him.” 

But  the  wicked  are  like  the  troubled  sea,  when  it  cannot  rest. 
“There  is  no  peace,”  saith  my  God,  ”to  the  wicked.” 


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Mercy  More  to  be  Desired  than  Fasting 

Behold,  on  the  day  of  your  fast  ye  find 
pleasure, 

And  ye  exact  all  money  lent  on  pledge. 

Behold,  ye  fast  for  strife  and  contention, 

And  to  smite  with  the  fist  of  wickedness. 

Ye  shall  not  fast  as  ye  do  this  day, 

To  make  your  voice  to  be  heard  on  high. 

Is  it  such  a  fast  that  I  have  chosen, 

A  day  for  a  man  to  afflict  his  soul? 

Is  it  to  bow  down  his  head  like  a  bulrush, 

And  to  spread  sackcloth  and  ashes  under 
him? 

Wilt  thou  call  this  a  fast, 

And  an  acceptable  day  to  the  Lord? 

Is  not  this  the  fast  that  I  have  chosen: 

To  loose  the  bands  of  wickedness, 

To  undo  the  heavy  burdens, 

And  to  let  the  oppressed  go  free, 

And  that  ye  break  every  yoke? 

Is  it  not  to  deal  thy  bread  to  the  hungry, 

And  to  bring  the  poor  that  are  cast  out  to 
thy  house? 

When  thou  seest  the  naked  that  thou  cover 
him, 

And  that  thou  hide  not  thyself  from  thine 
own  flesh? 

Then  shall  thy  light  break  forth  as  the  morning, 
And  thy  healing  shall  spring  forth  speedily; 

And  thy  righteousness  shall  go  before  thee; 

The  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  thy  rearward. 
Thou  shalt  cry,  and  he  shall  say,  4 4  Here 
. 


METHODS  OF  SECURING  THE  SOCIAL  GOOD 


153 


The  Sacrifices  of  Righteousness 

44  To  what  purpose  is  the  multitude  of  your  sac¬ 
rifices?”  saith  the  Lord. 

44 1  am  full  of  the  burnt  offerings  of  rams, 

And  the  fat  of  fed  beasts; 

And  I  delight  not  in  the  blood  of  bullocks, 

Or  of  lambs  and  of  he-goats. 

When  ye  come  to  appear  before  me, 

Who  hath  required  this  at  your  hand,  to  tread 
my  courts? 

Bring  no  more  vain  oblations; 

Incense  is  an  abomination  to  me; 

The  new  moons  and  sabbaths,  the  calling  of 
assemblies : 

I  cannot  bear  iniquity  along  with  the  solemn 
meeting. 

44  Your  new  moons  and  your  appointed  feasts  my 
soul  hateth; 

They  are  a  trouble  to  me; 

I  am  weary  to  bear  them. 

And  when  ye  spread  forth  your  hands, 

I  will  hide  mine  eyes  from  you. 

Even  when  ye  make  many  prayers, 

I  will  not  hear: 

Your  hands  are  full  of  blood. 

4 4  Wash  you,  make  you  clean. 

Put  away  the  evil  of  your  doings  from  before 
mine  eyes. 

Cease  to  do  evil, 

Learn  to  do  good: 

Seek  justice,  relieve  the  oppressed, 

Judge  the  fatherless,  plead  for  the  widow. 


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“Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  together,”  saith 
the  Lord. 

“Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be 
as  white  as  snow; 

Though  they  be  red  as  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool. 

If  ye  be  willing  and  obedient,  ye  shall  eat  the 
good  of  the  land: 

But  if  ye  refuse  and  rebel,  ye  shall  be  devoured 
by  the  sword; 

For  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.” 

Justice  Between  Man  and  Man 

Amend  your  ways  and  your  doings, 

And  I  will  cause  you  to  dwell  in  this  place. 

Trust  ye  not  in  lying  words,  saying,  “The  temple  of  the 
Lord, 

The  temple  of  the  Lord,  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  are  these!” 
For  if  ye  thoroughly  amend  your  ways  and  your  doings, 

If  ye  thoroughly  execute  justice  between  a  man  and  his 
neighbor, 

If  ye  oppress  not  the  stranger,  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow, 
And  shed  not  innocent  blood  in  this  place, 

Neither  walk  after  other  gods  to  your  hurt; 

Then  will  I  cause  you  to  dwell  in  this  place, 

In  the  land  that  I  gave  to  your  fathers  forever  and  ever. 

Return  from  Backsliding 

Turn,  O  ye  backsliding  children, 

For  I  am  married  to  you; 

And  I  will  take  you,  one  of  a  city, 

And  two  of  a  family, 

And  I  will  bring  you  to  Zion, 

And  I  will  give  you  shepherds  according  to  my  heart, 

Who  shall  feed  you  with  knowledge  and  understanding. 


METHODS  OF  SECURING  THE  SOCIAL  GOOD 


155 


But  I  said:  “How  shall  I  put  thee  among  the  children, 
And  give  thee  a  pleasant  land, 

A  goodly  heritage  of  the  hosts  of  nations?” 

And  I  said,  “Thou  shalt  call  me  ‘My  Father’; 

And  shalt  not  turn  away  from  me. 

Return,  ye  backsliding  children, 

And  I  will  heal  your  backslidings.” 

“Behold,  we  come  to  thee, 

For  thou  art  the  Lord  our  God.” 

Faith  in  God 

Cursed  be  the  man  that  trusteth  in  man, 

And  maketh  flesh  his  arm, 

And  whose  heart  departeth  from  the  Lord. 

For  he  shall  be  like  the  heat  in  the  desert, 

And  shall  not  see  when  good  cometh, 

But  shall  inhabit  the  parched  places  in  the 
wilderness, 

In  a  salt  land  and  not  inhabited. 

Blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  the  Lord, 

And  whose  hope  the  Lord  is. 

For  he  shall  be  as  a  tree  planted  by  the  waters, 

And  that  spreadeth  out  her  roots  by  the  river, 

And  shall  not  see  when  heat  cometh, 

But  her  leaf  shall  be  green; 

And  shall  not  be  anxious  in  the  year  of  drought. 
Neither  shall  cease  from  yielding  fruit. 

THE  RULE  OF  A  GOOD  KING 

The  Solitary  Kingly  Conqueror 

Israel’s  king  is  seen  coining  in  lonely  triumph  from  Edom,  the  land  of 
sons  of  Esau,  their  treacherous  enemies,  and  from  Bozrah,  its  capital. 


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Who  is  this  that  cometh  from  Edom, 

In  crimsoned  garments  from  Bozrah? 

This  that  is  glorious  in  his  apparel, 
Traveling  along  in  the  greatness  of  his 
strength  ? 

“I,  that  speak  in  righteousness, 

Mighty  to  save.” 

Wherefore  art  thou  red  in  thy  apparel, 

And  thy  garments  like  his  that  treadeth  in 
the  wine  vat? 

6CI  have  trodden  the  winepress  alone, 

And  of  the  people  there  was  none  with  me: 
Yea,  I  trod  them  in  mine  anger, 

And  trampled  them  in  my  fury; 

And  their  blood  is  sprinkled  upon  my  gar¬ 
ments, 

And  I  have  stained  all  my  raiment. 

For  a  day  of  vengeance  was  in  my  heart. 
And  the  year  of  my  redeemed  is  come. 

I  looked,  but  there  was  none  to  help, 

And  I  wondered  that  there  was  none  to  up¬ 
hold  : 

Therefore  mine  own  arm  brought  salvation 
to  me, 

And  my  wrath,  it  upheld  me. 

So  I  trod  down  the  people  in  mine  anger, 
And  broke  them  to  pieces  in  my  fury, 

And  I  poured  out  their  blood  on  the  earth.” 

A  Vision  of  the  King  of  Peace 

Behold,  a  King  shall  reign  in  righteousness, 
And  princes  shall  rule  with  judgment. 


METHODS  OF  SECURING  THE  SOCIAL  GOOD 


157 


And  a  man  shall  be  as  a  refuge  from  the  wind, 

And  a  covert  from  the  tempest; 

As  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place, 

As  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land. 

Then  justice  shall  dwell  in  the  wilderness, 

And  righteousness  remain  in  the  fruitful  field, 

And  the  work  of  righteousness  shall  be  peace; 

And  the  effect  of  righteousness,  quietness  and 
security  forever. 

And  my  people  shall  dwell  in  a  peaceful  habitation, 

And  in  sure  dwellings,  and  in  quiet  resting  places. 

Blessed  are  ye  that  sow  beside  all  waters, 

That  send  forth  thither  the  feet  of  the  ox  and 
the  ass. 

Visions  of  a  Shepherd  King  to  Come 

I 

But  thou,  Beth-lehem  Ephrathah, 

Though  thou  be  little  among  the  thousands  of  Judah, 

Yet  out  of  thee  shall  he  come  forth  unto  me  that  is  to 
be  ruler  in  Israel, 

Whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  everlasting. 
Therefore  shall  he  give  them  up,  until  she  who  beareth 
shall  have  borne. 

Then  the  remnant  of  his  brethren  shall  return  with  the 
children  of  Israel. 

And  he  shall  stand  and  shepherd  his  flock  in  the  strength 
of  the  Lord, 

In  the  majesty  of  the  name  of  the  Lord  his  God. 

And  they  shall  abide! 

For  now  shall  he  be  great  to  the  ends  of  the  earth, 

And  this  man  shall  be  our  peace. 


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r  " 
*SjSy 

p.  W&W  JO? 


Hmg 


A  SHEPHERD  BY  THE  JORDAN  RIVER 


METHODS  OF  SECURING  THE  SOCIAL  GOOD 


159 


II 

I  will  set  up  one  shepherd  over  them, 

And  he  shall  feed  them, 

Even  my  servant  David. 

I  will  make  with  them  a  covenant  of  peace, 

And  will  cause  the  evil  beasts  to  cease  out  of  the  land; 
They  shall  dwell  safely  in  the  wilderness, 

And  sleep  in  the  woods. 

I  will  make  them  and  the  places  round  about  my  hill  a 
blessing, 

And  I  will  cause  the  shower  to  come  down  in  its  season; 
There  shall  be  showers  of  blessing. 

And  they  shall  be  safe  in  their  land; 

And  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord, 

When  I  have  broken  the  bars  of  their  yoke, 

And  have  delivered  them  out  of  the  hand  of  those  that 
served  themselves  with  them. 

III 

I  will  gather  the  remnant  of  my  flock  out  of  all  countries 
whither  I  have  driven  them, 

And  will  bring  them  again  to  their  folds, 

And  they  shall  be  fruitful  and  increase. 

And  I  will  set  up  shepherds  over  them  who  shall  feed  them, 
And  they  shall  fear  no  more, 

Nor  be  dismayed,  neither  shall  they  be  lacking. 

Behold,  the  days  come  that  I  will  raise  unto  David  a 
righteous  branch, 

And  a  King  shall  reign  and  prosper, 

And  shall  execute  judgment  and  justice  in  the  earth. 

In  his  day  Judah  shall  be  saved, 


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And  Israel  shall  dwell  safely; 

And  this  is  his  name  whereby  he  shall  be  called : 

The  Lord  Our  Righteousness. 

RECESSIONAL 

God  of  our  fathers,  known  of  old. 

Lord  of  our  far-flung  battle  line, 

Beneath  whose  awful  Hand  we  hold 
Dominion  over  palm  and  pine — 

Lord  God  of  Hosts,  be  with  us  yet, 

Lest  we  forget — lest  we  forget! 

The  tumult  and  the  shouting  dies; 

The  Captains  and  the  Kings  depart: 

Still  stands  thine  ancient  sacrifice, 

An  humble  and  a  contrite  heart. 

Lord  God  of  Hosts,  be  with  us  yet, 

Lest  we  forget — lest  we  forget! 

Far-called,  our  navies  melt  away; 

On  dune  and  headland  sinks  the  fire: 
Lo,  all  our  pomp  of  yesterday 

Is  one  with  Nineveh  and  Tyre! 

Judge  of  the  Nations,  spare  us  yet. 

Lest  we  forget — lest  we  forget! 

If,  drunk  with  sight  of  power,  we  loose 

Wild  tongues  that  have  not  thee  in  awe, 
Such  boastings  as  the  Gentiles  use, 

Or  lesser  breeds  without  the  Law — 

Lord  God  of  Hosts,  be  with  us  yet, 

Lest  we  forget— lest  we  forget! 

For  heathen  heart  that  puts  her  trust 
In  reeking  tube  and  iron  shard, 

All  valiant  dust  that  builds  on  dust, 

And,  guarding,  calls  not  thee  to  guard, 

For  frantic  boast  and  foolish  word — - 
Thy  mercy  on  thy  People,  Lord! 

— Rudyard  Kipling 


THE  IDEAL  SOCIAL  SERVANT: 

THE  MESSIAH 

As  the  fulfilment  of  the  hope  of  a  heroic  king  was  delayed,  another 
vision  was  given  to  some  of  the  greater  prophets.  They  dreamed  of  a 
deliverer  who  should  accomplish  his  work,  not  by  war  and  bloodshed,  but 
through  sacrifice,  suffering,  and  death.  He  was  called  “the  servant  of 
Jehovah,”  because  his  whole-hearted  obedience  and  loyalty  to  God  were 
such  a  contrast  to  the  infidelity  of  his  people;  and  because  of  his  thorough 
devotion,  ultimately  he  should  be  raised  to  high  reward  and  should  see  the 
satisfaction  of  all  his  hopes.  Sometimes  Israel  itself — that  is,  the  faithful 
remnant  of  Israel — -is  thought  of  as  Jehovah's  servant;  but  it  is  evident 
that  always  there  was  the  anticipation  that  there  would  be  an  individual 
as  the  head  of  his  people. 

In  the  Maccabean  time  this  servant,  whether  the  reference  be  to  the 
loyal  people  of  Israel  or  to  their  head,  is  known  as  “the  Son  of  Man.'’ 

The  two  great  thoughts  as  to  the  deliverer — Ihe  servant  who  was  a 
man  of  sorrows,  and  the  King  who  was  to  be  “numbered  with  the  great ” — 
are  brought  together  in  the  famous  passage  in  the  Book  of  Isaiah,  quoted 
in  this  volume  under  “The  Servant  Who  Suffers  and  Is  Satisfied.”25 

ISRAEL,  JEHOVAH’S  SERVANT 

I 

BUT  thou,  Israel,  art  my  servant, 

1  Jacob  whom  I  have  chosen, 

The  children  of  Abraham  my  friend; 

Thou  whom  I  have  taken  from  the  ends  of  the  earth, 

And  called  thee  from  the  uttermost  parts  thereof, 

And  said  to  thee:  “Thou  art  my  servant; 

I  have  chosen  thee,  and  not  cast  thee  away.” 

Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am  with  thee; 

Be  not  dismayed,  for  I  am  thy  God. 

I  will  strengthen  thee,  yea,  I  will  help  thee; 

Yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my 
righteousness. 

Behold,  all  they  that  are  incensed  against  thee 

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Shall  be  ashamed  and  confounded; 

They  that  strive  with  thee  shall  perish: 

They  that  war  against  thee 

Shall  be  as  nothing,  and  as  a  thing  of  nought. 

For  I  the  Lord  thy  God  will  hold  thy  right  hand, 
Saying  unto  thee,  ‘‘Fear  not,  I  will  help  thee.” 

II 

Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  the  Lord, 

And  my  servant  whom  I  have  chosen; 

That  ye  may  know  and  believe  me, 

And  understand  that  I  am  he. 

Before  me  there  was  no  God  formed, 

Neither  shall  there  be  after  me. 

I,  even  I,  am  the  Lord, 

And  beside  me  there  is  no  savior. 

I  have  declared,  and  have  saved, 

And  I  have  showed,  and  there  was  no  strange  god 
among  you. 

Therefore  ye  are  my  witnesses,  that  I  am  God. 

III 

Fear  not,  O  Jacob  my  servant, 

And  thou,  Jeshurun  [Beloved],  whom  I  have  chosen. 
For  I  will  pour  water  upon  the  thirsty  land, 

And  floods  upon  the  dry  ground: 

I  will  pour  my  spirit  upon  thy  family, 

And  my  blessing  upon  thy  offspring; 

And  they  shall  spring  up  among  the  grass, 

As  willows  by  the  water-courses. 

IV 

Remember  these,  O  Jacob  and  Israel,  for  thou  art  my 
servant ; 

I  have  formed  thee,  thou  art  my  servant; 

O  Israel,  thou  shalt  not  be  forgotten  of  me! 


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163 


I  have  blotted  out,  as  a  thick  cloud,  thy  transgressions, 
And,  as  a  cloud,  thy  sins: 

Return  to  me,  for  I  have  redeemed  thee. 

Sing,  O  ye  heavens,  for  the  Lord  hath  done  it! 

Shout,  ye  lower  parts  of  the  earth! 

Break  forth  into  singing,  ye  mountains, 

O  forest,  and  every  tree  therein; 

For  the  Lord  hath  redeemed  Jacob, 

And  glorified  himself  in  Israel. 

THE  SERVANT  WHO  LEARNS  AND  WHO 

SUFFERS 

The  Lord  God  hath  given  me  the  tongue  of  them  that  are 
taught, 

That  I  should  know  how  to  speak  a  word  in  season,  to  him 
that  is  weary. 

He  wakeneth  me  morning  by  morning, 

He  wakeneth  mine  ear  to  hear,  as  they  that  are  taught: 
The  Lord  God  hath  opened  mine  ear, 

And  I  was  not  rebellions,  neither  turned  away  backward. 

I  gave  my  back  to  the  smiters, 

And  my  cheeks  to  those  who  plucked  off  the  hair; 

I  hid  not  my  face  from  insult  and  spitting: 

For  the  Lord  God  will  help  me, 

Therefore  shall  I  not  be  confounded. 

Therefore  I  have  set  my  face  like  flint, 

And  I  know  that  I  shall  not  be  put  to  shame. 

He  is  near  who  justifieth  me:  who  will  contend  with  me? 
Who  is  mine  adversary?  Let  him  draw  near  to  me! 
Behold,  the  Lord  God  will  help  me;  who  is  he  that  shall 
condemn  me? 


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Lo,  they  all  shall  grow  old  like  a  garment: 

The  moth  shall  eat  them  up. 

Who  is  among  you  that  feareth  the  Lord, 

That  obeyeth  the  voice  of  his  servant? 

That  walketh  in  darkness, 

And  hath  no  light? 

Let  him  trust  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 

And  stay  upon  his  God. 

THE  SERVANT  OF  MEEKNESS  AND  CONSTANCY 

Behold  my  servant,  whom  I  uphold, 

My  chosen,  in  whom  my  soul  delighteth: 

I  have  put  my  spirit  upon  him; 

He  shall  bring  forth  justice  to  the  Gentiles. 

He  shall  not  cry,  nor  lift  up, 

Nor  cause  his  voice  to  be  heard  in  the  street  . 

A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break, 

And  smoking  flax  shall  he  not  quench. 

He  shall  bring  forth  justice  to  truth: 

He  shall  not  fail  nor  be  discouraged, 

Till  he  have  set  justice  in  the  earth; 

And  the  isles  shall  wait  for  his  law. 

THE  SERVANT  ANOINTED  FOR  HIS  TASK 

The  spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me; 

Because  the  Lord  hath  anointed  me 
To  preach  good  tidings  to  the  meek; 

He  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted, 

To  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives, 

And  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  are 
bound; 


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165 


To  proclaim  the  year  of  the  Lord’s  favor, 

And  the  day  of  vengeance  of  our  God26; 

To  comfort  all  that  mourn; 

To  appoint  unto  them  that  mourn  in  Zion, 

To  give  them  a  garland  for  ashes, 

The  oil  of  joy  for  mourning, 

The  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of 
heaviness : 

That  they  may  be  called  trees  of  righteousness, 
The  planting  of  the  Lord, 

That  he  may  be  glorified. 


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THE  PROMISED  LAND 

O  little  Land  of  lapping  seas, 

Of  vineyards,  vales  and  hills; 

Of  tender  rains  and  rainbow  plains, 

Of  deserts  and  of  rills; 

O  little  Land  of  mounting  crags. 

Of  lonely  height  and  deep; 

A  world  away  thy  children  stray 
And  long,  and  wait,  and  weep. 

I  know  the  golden  oranges 

Englobed  beneath  the  moon; 

The  sky  that  spills  ’twixt  seas  and  hills 
Its  shining  draught  of  noon; 

The  vines  that  bind  our  holy  hills 
With  grapes  like  jewels  set; 

The  silver-green  of  olive  sheen 
Oh,  can  my  soul  forget? 

O  little  Land  of  holy  men 

Of  fearless  dream  and  deed, 

From  clime  to  clime  the  storms  of  time 
Have  strewn  thy  hardy  seed; 

And  fearless  still  and  holy  still, 

We  sang  through  hate  and  shame; 

With  faith  we  fought,  with  deed  and  thought 
And  God’s  enduring  name. 

My  heart  is  singing  like  a  bird 
Of  home  that  still  may  be, 

And  joys  I  dared  to  leave,  and  spared, 

Hold  out  their  arms  to  me. 

We  cannot  sleep  in  cushioned  ease 
Nor  yield  to  martial  will, 

But  we  must  hear  God's  trumpet  clear 
Sound  peace  upon  his  Hill. 

— Jessie  E.  Sampter 


By  permission  of  The  Bloch  Publishing  Company 


PATRIOTIC  POETRY 


LOVE  OF  TRIBE  AND  COUNTRY 


TRIBAL  SONGS 

Of  Reuben 

REUBEN,  thou  art  my  first-born, 

j  My  might,  and  the  beginning  of  my  strength, 
The  excellency  of  dignity,  and  the  excellency  of 
power : 

Unstable  as  water,  thou  shalt  not  excel.27 


Let  Reuben  live  and  not  die; 

And  let  not  his  men  be  few. 

Of  Judah 

I 

Judah  [Praise],  thou  art  he  whom  thy  brethren  shall 
praise: 

Thy  hand  shall  be  on  the  neck  of  thine  enemies; 
Thy  father’s  children  shall  bow  down  before  thee. 

Judah  is  a  lion’s  whelp. 

From  the  prey,  my  son,  thou  art  gone  up; 

He  stooped  down,  he  couched  as  a  lion, 

And  as  an  old  lion;  who  shall  rouse  him  up? 

The  scepter  shall  not  depart  from  Judah, 

Nor  a  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet, 

As  long  as  men  come  to  Shiloh; 

And  to  him  shall  the  gathering  of  the  people  be. 

Binding  his  foal  to  the  vine, 

And  his  ass’s  colt  to  the  choice  vine, 


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He  washed  his  garments  in  wine, 

And  his  clothes  in  the  blood  of  grapes: 

His  eyes  shall  be  red  with  wine, 

And  his  teeth  white  with  milk. 

II 

Hear,  Lord,  the  voice  of  Judah, 

And  bring  him  to  his  people. 

Let  his  hands  be  sufficient  to  him, 

And  be  thou  a  help  to  him  from  his  enemies. 

Of  Zebulun 

I 

Zebulun  shall  dwell  at  the  haven  of  the  sea, 

And  he  shall  be  for  a  haven  of  ships; 

And  his  border  shall  be  unto  Sidon. 

II 

Rej  oice,  Zebulun,  in  thy  going  out, 

And,  Issachar,  in  thy  tents. 

They  shall  call  the  people  to  the  mountain: 
There  they  shall  offer  sacrifices  of  righteousness; 
For  they  shall  suck  of  the  abundance  of  the  seas, 
And  of  treasures  hid  in  the  sands. 

Of  Issachar 

Issachar  is  a  strong  ass, 

Couching  down  between  two  burdens: 

For  he  saw  that  rest  was  good, 

And  the  land  that  it  was  pleasant; 

And  he  bowed  his  shoulder  to  bear, 

And  became  a  servant  to  tribute. 

Of  Dan 

I 

Dan  [Judge]  shall  judge  his  people, 

As  one  of  the  tribes  of  Israel. 


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171 


Dan  shall  be  a  serpent  by  the  way, 

An  adder  in  the  path, 

That  biteth  the  horse’s  heels, 

So  that  his  rider  shall  fall  backward. 

II 

Dan  is  a  lion’s  whelp; 

He  shall  leap  from  Bashan. 

Of  Gad 

I 

Gad  [Troop],  a  troop  shall  troop  upon  him, 

But  he  shall  overcome  at  the  last. 

II 

Blessed  be  he  that  enlargeth  Gad. 

He  dwelleth  like  a  lion, 

And  teareth  the  arm  with  the  crown  of  the  head. 
And  he  provided  the  first  part  for  himself, 
Because  there,  in  a  portion  of  the  lawgiver,  was 
he  seated, 

And  he  came  with  the  heads  of  the  people. 

He  executed  the  justice  of  the  Lord, 

And  his  judgments  with  Israel. 

Of  Asher 

I 

Out  of  Asher  his  bread  shall  be  fat, 

And  he  shall  yield  royal  dainties. 

II 

Let  Asher  be  blessed  with  children; 

Let  him  be  acceptable  to  his  brethren, 

And  let  him  dip  his  foot  in  oil. 

Thy  shoes  shall  be  iron  and  brass; 

And  as  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be. 


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Of  Naphtali 

I 

Naphtali  is  a  hind  let  loose: 

He  giveth  goodly  words. 

II 

O  Naphtali,  satisfied  with  favor, 

And  full  with  the  blessing  of  the  Lord, 

Possess  thou  the  west  and  the  south. 

Of  Joseph 

I 

Joseph  is  a  fruitful  bough, 

A  fruitful  vine  by  a  well, 

Whose  branches  run  over  the  wall. 

The  archers  have  sorely  grieved  him, 

And  shot  at  him,  and  hated  him: 

But  his  bow  abode  in  strength, 

And  the  arms  of  his  hands  were  made  strong 
By  the  hands  of  the  Mighty  One  of  Jacob, 

(From  thence  is  the  shepherd,  the  stone  of  Israel); 
Even  by  the  God  of  thy  father,  who  shall  help  thee, 
And  by  the  Almighty,  who  shall  bless  thee 
With  blessings  of  heaven  above. 

The  blessings  of  thy  father  have  prevailed 
Above  the  blessings  of  my  progenitors 
To  the  utmost  bound  of  the  everlasting  hills: 
They  shall  be  on  the  head  of  Joseph, 

And  on  the  crown  of  the  head  of  him  that  was 
separate  from  his  brethren. 

II 

Blessed  of  the  Lord  be  his  land, 

For  the  precious  things  of  the  hea  vens,  for  the  dew, 


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173 


And  for  the  deep  that  coucheth  beneath, 

And  for  the  precious  fruits  brought  forth  by  the  sun, 
And  for  the  precious  things  put  forth  by  the  moon, 
And  for  the  chief  things  of  the  ancient  mountains, 
And  for  the  precious  things  of  the  lasting  hills, 
And  for  the  precious  things  of  the  earth  and  fulness 
thereof, 

And  for  the  good  will  of  him  that  dwelt  in  the  bush. 
Let  the  blessing  come  upon  the  head  of  Joseph, 
And  upon  the  top  of  the  head  of  him  that  was  sepa¬ 
rated  from  his  brethren. 

His  glory  is  like  the  firstling  of  his  bullock, 

And  his  horns  are  like  the  horns  of  the  wild  ox: 
With  them  he  shall  push  the  people  together 
To  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

And  they  are  the  ten  thousands  of  Ephraim, 

And  they  are  the  thousands  of  Manasseh. 

Of  Benjamin 

I 

Benjamin  shall  ravin  as  a  wolf: 

In  the  morning  he  shall  devour  the  prey. 

And  at  night  he  shall  divide  the  spoil. 

II 

The  beloved  of  the  Lord  shall  dwell  securely  by  him, 
And  the  Lord  shall  cover  him  all  day  long, 

And  he  shall  dwell  between  his  shoulders. 

Of  Levi 

Let  thy  Urim  and  Thummim  be  with  the  Holy  One, 
Whom  thou  didst  prove  at  Massah, 

And  with  whom  thou  didst  strive  at  the  waters  of 
Meribah; 


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For  they  have  observed  thy  word, 

And  kept  thy  covenant. 

They  shall  teach  Jacob  thy  judgments, 

And  Israel  thy  law: 

They  shall  put  incense  before  thee, 

And  whole  burnt  sacrifice  upon  thine  altar. 

Bless,  Lord,  his  substance, 

And  accept  the  work  of  his  hands. 

Of  Israel 

There  is  none  like  the  God  of  Jeshurun, 

Who  rideth  upon  the  heaven  for  thy  help, 

And  in  his  excellency  on  the  sky. 

The  eternal  God  is  thy  refuge, 

And  underneath  are  the  everlasting  arms: 

And  he  shall  thrust  out  the  enemy  from  before  thee* 

And  shall  say,  4 ‘Destroy!” 

Israel  then  shall  dwell  in  safety,  alone. 

The  fountain  of  Jacob  shall  be  upon  a  land  of  corn 
and  wine; 

Also  his  heavens  shall  drop  down  dew. 

Happy  art  thou,  O  Israel: 

Who  is  like  thee,  O  people  saved  by  the  Lord, 

The  shield  of  thy  help, 

And  the  sword  of  thine  excellency! 

NATIONAL  ASPIRATIONS 

Conquest 
A  Prose  Poem 

If  ye  shall  diligently  keep  all  these  commandments  that 
1  command  you,  to  do  them,  to  love  the  Lord  your  God,  to 
walk  in  all  his  ways,  and  to  cleave  to  him;  then  will  the  Lord 
drive  out  all  these  nations  from  before  you,  and  ye  shall 


< 


“I  WILL  OPEN  RIVERS  IN  HIGH  PLACES” 


LOVE  OF  TRIBE  AND  COUNTRY 


175 


possess  nations  greater  and  mightier  than  yourselves.  Every 
place  whereon  the  sole  of  your  foot  shall  tread  shall  be  yours: 
from  the  wilderness,  and  Lebanon,  from  the  river,  the  river 
Euphrates,  even  to  the  uttermost  sea  shall  your  border  be. 
There  shall  no  man  be  able  to  stand  before  vou,  for  the 
Lord  your  God  shall  lay  the  fear  of  you  and  the  dread  of  you 
upon  all  the  land  that  ye  shall  tread  upon,  even  as  he  hath 
said  to  you. 


Happiness  and  Splendor 

The  Lord  their  God  shall  save  them  in  that  day — 

As  the  flock  of  his  people; 

For  they  shall  be  as  the  jewels  of  a  crown, 

Lifted  up  as  an  ensign  upon  his  land. 

For  how  great  is  his  goodness! 

And  how  great  is  his  beauty! 

Grain  shall  make  the  young  men  cheerful, 

And  new  wine  the  maidens. 

A  Song  in  the  Night 

Ye  shall  have  a  song,  as  in  the  night  when  a  holy  solemnity 
is  kept, 

And  gladness  of  heart,  like  liis  who  goeth  with  a  flute, 

To  come  into  the  mountain  of  the  Lord, 

To  the  Mighty  One  of  Israel. 

And  the  Lord  will  cause  his  glorious  voice  to  be  heard, 
And  will  show  the  lighting  down  of  his  arm. 

The  Land  of  Plenty 

When  the  poor  and  needy  seek  water,  and 
there  is  none, 

And  their  tongue  faileth  for  thirst, 

I  the  Lord  will  hear  them: 

I  the  God  of  Israel  will  not  forsake  them 
I  will  open  rivers  in  high  places, 


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And  fountains  in  the  midst  of  the  valleys: 

I  will  make  the  wilderness  a  pool  of  water, 

And  the  dry  land  springs  of  water. 

I  will  plant  in  the  wilderness  the  cedar, 

The  acacia,  and  the  myrtle,  and  the  oil  tree: 

I  will  set  in  the  desert  the  fir  tree, 

And  the  pine,  and  the  box  tree  together; 

That  they  may  see,  and  know. 

And  consider,  and  understand  together, 

That  the  hand  of  the  Lord  hath  done  this, 

And  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  hath  created  it. 

Our  Mother  Country 

Rejoice  ye  with  Jerusalem, 

And  be  glad  with  her,  all  ye  that  love  her! 

Rejoice  for  joy  with  her,  all  ye  that  mourned  over  her; 
For  behold,  I  will  extend  peace  to  her  like  a  river, 

And  the  glory  of  the  Gentiles  like  a  flowing  stream; 

Then  her  sucklings  also  shall  be  borne  on  her  side, 

And  be  caressed  upon  her  knees. 

As  one  whom  his  mother  comforteth,  so  will  I  comfort  you; 
And  ye  shall  be  comforted  in  Jerusalem. 

The  City  Beside  Its  River 

Thine  eyes  shall  see  Jerusalem, 

A  quiet  habitation,  a  tent  that  shall  not 
be  taken  down: 

Not  one  of  the  pegs  thereof  shall  ever  be 
removed, 

Neither  shall  any  of  the  cords  thereof  be  broken. 

But  there  the  Lord  will  be  with  us  in  majesty, 

A  place  of  broad  rivers  and  streams, 

Wherein  shall  go  no  galley  with  oars, 

Neither  shall  gallant  ship  pass  thereby. 


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177 


For  the  Lord  is  our  Judge, 

The  Lord  is  our  Lawgiver, 

The  Lord  is  our  King: 

He  will  save  us. 

The  Holy  Nation 

Ye  have  seen  how  I  bore  you  on  eagles’  wings, 
And  brought  you  to  myself. 

Now  therefore,  if  ye  will  obey  my  voice  indeed, 
And  keep  my  covenant, 

Then  ye  shall  be  mine  own  possession  above 
all  peoples; 

For  all  the  earth  is  mine. 

And  ye  shall  be  to  me  a  kingdom  of  priests, 
And  a  holy  nation. 


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RUINS  OF  JERUSALEM 
From  a  'painting  by  James  J.  Tissot 

The  patriot  Nehemiah  rides  about  the  ruins  of  his  nation’s  capital  and  allows  the 
full  meaning  of  its  destruction  to  sink  into  his  soul.  He  hears  in  imagination  the  weeping 
prophet  Jeremiah,  “How  doth  the  city  sit  solitary,  that  was  full  of  people!  How  is  she 
become  a  widow,  she  that  was  great  among  the  nations!”  The  desolation  had  been  all 
that  the  prophets  and  the  poets  had  sung;  but  Nehemiah  could  also  see  the  rising  wall  that 
was  to  bring  to  the  city  peace  and  prosperity  again. 


THE  SORROWS  OF  A  PEOPLE 
WHO  FORGET  GOD 


DESOLATE  JERUSALEM 


HOW  doth  the  city  sit  solitary,  that  was  full  of  people! 
How  is  she  become  a  widow,  she  that  was  great 
among  the  nations! 

She  that  was  a  princess  among  the  provinces,  how  is 
she  become  tributary! 


She  weepeth  sore  in  the  night,  and  her  tears  are  on 
her  cheeks; 

Among  all  her  lovers,  she  hath  none  to  comfort  her; 
All  her  friends  have  dealt  treacherously  with  her, 
they  are  become  her  enemies. 


Judah  is  gone  into  captivity  because  of  affliction, 
and  because  of  great  servitude; 

She  dwelleth  among  the  heathen,  she  findeth  no  rest; 
All  her  persecutors  overtook  her,  between  the  straits. 


The  ways  of  Zion  do  mourn,  because  none  come  to 
the  solemn  feasts; 

All  her  gates  are  desolate,  her  priests  do  sigh; 

Her  maidens  are  afflicted,  and  she  is  in  bitterness. 


Her  adversaries  are  the  head,  her  enemies  prosper; 
For  the  Lord  hath  afflicted  her,  for  the  multitude  of 
her  transgressions; 

Her  children  are  gone  into  captivity,  before  the  enemy. 

And  from  the  daughter  of  Zion  all  her  beauty  is 
departed ; 


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Her  princes  are  become  like  harts  that  find  no  pas¬ 
ture  ; 

And  they  are  gone  without  strength  before  the  pur¬ 
suer. 

Is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that  pass  by? 

Behold,  and  see  if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  my  sor¬ 
row  which  is  done  to  me, 

Wherewith  the  Lord  hath  afflicted  me  in  the  day  of 
his  fierce  anger. 

The  Lord  hath  trodden  under  foot  all  my  mighty 
men  in  the  midst  of  me; 

He  hath  called  an  assembly  against  me  to  crush  my 
young  men; 

The  Lord  hath  trodden  the  virgin,  the  daughter  of 
Judah,  as  in  a  winepress. 

For  these  things  I  weep;  mine  eye,  mine  eye  runneth 
down  with  water, 

Because  the  comforter  that  should  relieve  my  soul  is 
far  from  me; 

My  children  are  desolate,  because  the  enemy  pre- 
vaileth. 

Zion  spreadeth  forth  her  hands,  and  there  is  none  to 
comfort  her; 

The  Lord  hath  commanded  concerning  Jacob  that  his 
adversaries  should  be  around  him; 

Jerusalem  is  among  them  as  an  unclean  thing. 

I  called  for  my  lovers,  but  they  deceived  me; 

My  priests  and  mine  elders  gave  up  the  ghost  in  the 
city; 

While  they  sought  their  food  to  refresh  their  souls. 


THE  SORROWS  OF  A  PEOPLE  WHO  FORGET  GOD  181 


THE  SHEPHERD  SMITTEN  AND  THE  SHEEP 

SCATTERED 

Awake,  O  sword,  against  my  shepherd, 

And  against  the  man  that  is  my  fellow; 

Smite  the  shepherd,  and  the  sheep  shall  be  scattered, 
And  I  will  turn  my  hand  upon  the  little  ones. 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  in  all  the  land 
Two  parts  therein  shall  be  cut  off  and  die, 

But  the  third  shall  be  left  therein. 

And  I  will  bring  the  third  part  through  the  fire, 

And  will  refine  him  as  silver  is  refined, 

And  will  try  them  as  gold  is  tried. 

They  shall  call  on  my  name,  and  I  will  hear  them: 

I  will  say,  “It  is  my  people”; 

And  they  shall  say,  “The  Lord  is  my  God.“ 

THE  DARKENING  OF  JOY 

I 

The  new  wine  mourneth, 

The  vine  languisheth, 

All  the  merry -hear ted  do  sigh. 

The  mirth  of  tabrets  ceaseth, 

The  noise  of  them  that  rejoice  endeth, 

The  joy  of  the  harp  ceaseth. 

They  shall  not  drink  wine  with  a  song: 

Strong  drink  shall  be  bitter  to  them  that  drink  it. 
The  city  of  confusion  is  broken  down; 

Every  house  is  shut  up,  that  no  man  may  come  in. 
There  is  a  crying  amidst  the  wine  in  the  streets. 

All  joy  is  darkened, 

The  mirth  of  the  land  is  gone. 


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When  thus  it  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  the  land 
among  the  people, 

There  shall  be  as  the  shaking  of  an  olive  tree, 
And  as  the  gleaning  grapes  when  the  vineyard  is 
done. 

They  shall  lift  up  their  voice, 

They  shall  sing  for  the  majesty  of  the  Lord, 

They  shall  cry  aloud  from  the  sea. 

Wherefore  glorify  ye  the  Lord  in  the  fires, 

Even  the  name  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  in  the  isles 
of  the  sea. 


II 

I  will  take  from  them  the  voice  of  mirth,  and  the 
voice  of  gladness; 

The  voice  of  the  bridegroom,  and  the  voice  of  the 
bride ; 

The  sound  of  the  millstones,  and  the  light  of  the 
candle. 


III 

And  the  daughter  of  Zion  is  left  as  a  cottage  in  a 
vineyard, 

As  a  lodge  in  a  garden  of  cucumbers, 

As  a  besieged  city. 

IV 

The  harvest  of  the  field  is  perished. 

The  vine  is  dried  up, 

And  the  fig  tree  languisheth; 

The  pomegranate  tree,  the  palm  tree  also,  and 
the  apple  tree, 

Even  all  the  trees  of  the  field  are  withered; 
Because  joy  is  withered  away  from  the  sons  of  men. 


THE  SORROWS  OF  A  PEOPLE  WHO  FORGET  GOD  183 


THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  BEAUTIFUL 

HOUSE  OF  GOD 

Oh,  that  thou  wouldst  rend  the  heavens, 

That  thou  wouldst  come  down, 

That  the  mountains  might  flow  at  thy  presence! 

As  when  the  melting  fire  burneth, 

The  fire  causeth  the  waters  to  boil, 

To  make  thy  name  known  to  thine  adversaries, 

That  the  nations  may  tremble  at  thy  presence ! 

When  thou  didst  terrible  things  which  we  looked 
not  for, 

Thou  earnest  down; 

The  mountains  flowed  down  at  thy  presence; 

For  since  the  beginning  of  the  world  men  have  not 
heard, 

Nor  perceived  by  the  ear, 

Neither  hath  the  eye  seen,  O  God,  besides  thee, 
What  he  hath  prepared  for  him  that  waiteth  for  him. 

Thou  meetest  him  that  rejoiceth  and  worketh 
righteousness, 

Those  that  remember  thee  in  thy  ways: 

Behold,  thou  art  wroth,  for  we  have  sinned; 

In  them  have  we  continued;  and  shall  we  be  saved? 
But  we  are  all  as  an  unclean  thing, 

And  all  our  righteousnesses  are  as  filthy  rags; 

And  we  all  do  fade  like  a  leaf, 

And  our  iniquities,  like  the  wind,  have  driven 
us  away. 

And  there  is  none  that  calleth  upon  thy  name, 
That  stirreth  up  himself  to  take  hold  of  thee; 

For  thou  hast  hid  thy  face  from  us, 

And  hast  consumed  us,  because  of  our  iniquities. 


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©Keystone  View  Co. 

THE  JEWS’  WAILING  PLACE,  JERUSALEM 

The  wall  of  huge  stones  on  the  right  is  the  western  retaining  wall  of  the  Temple  area. 
It  rises  some  twenty  feet  above  the  present  level  and  descends  probably  fifty  feet  into  the 
ground.  It  was  not  built  by  Solomon  but  by  King  Herod  the  Great.  Nevertheless,  the  size 
and  magnificence  of  the  stones  help  perpetuate  the  old  legend  of  the  Talmud  that  Solomon 
had  the  help  of  the  jinns  or  desert  demons  in  building  the  Temple.  As  the  little  old  Moham¬ 
medan  woman  whose  fig  orchard  one  may  enter  through  the  door  at  the  back  of  the  picture 
once  said,  “Devils  put  these  stones  here.” 

The  Jews  who  live  in  Jerusalem  have  made  it  their  pious  duty  to  weep  over  these  stones 
and  to  recall  the  downfall  of  their  beloved  nation.  Every  afternoon  some  mourners  are  to 
be  found  here.  On  Friday  the  courtyard  is  filled  with  them.  They  are  mostly  aged  people 
who  are  pensioned  by  western  Jews  in  order  that  they  may  live  here  and  keep  alive  the 
traditions  of  the  race.  Some  of  the  Availing  is  perfunctory,  some  of  it  seems  to  be  genuine. 
The  AAailer  reads  from  a  little  copy  of  the  Book  of  Lamentations  or  the  Psalms  or  the  Prophets, 
usually  Avith  his  face  half  hidden  in  one  of  the  giant  cracks  in  the  old  Avail.  The  scene  becomes 
pathetic  only  Avhen  Ave  recall  the  long  tragedy  of  JeAvish  history  and  realize  that  behind  this 
great  piece  of  Herodian  engineering  lies  the  spot  most  sacred  in  all  the  Avorld  to  a  JeAV. 


But  now,  Lord,  thou  art  our  Father; 

We  are  the  clay,  and  thou  art  our  potter; 
And  we  all  are  the  work  of  thy  hand. 

Behold,  see,  we  beseech  thee: 

W  e  are  all  thy  people. 

Thy  holy  cities  are  a  wilderness, 

Zion  is  a  wilderness,  Jerusalem  a  desolation. 


THE  SORROWS  OF  A  PEOPLE  WHO  FORGET  GOD  185 


Our  lioly  and  our  beautiful  house, 

Where  our  fathers  praised  thee, 

Is  burned  with  fire, 

And  all  our  pleasant  things  are  laid  waste. 

AT  THE  JEWS’  WAILING  PLACE 

With  heads  bowed  down,  they  stand  with  streaming  eyes, 
Before  the  ruined  wall,  whose  grimy  stones 
Are  crumbling  with  the  weight  of  centuries, 

And  read  their  Mincha-prayer  in  mournful  tones. 

Their  garb  proclaims  them  men  of  many  lands: 

Those  dwell  amid  the  northern  snows,  and  these 
Have  wandered  far  from  Yemen's  burning  sands, 

Or  sought  their  way  across  the  western  seas. 

Not  here  alone  do  wailing  figures  stand! 

Not  here  alone  do  tears  of  sorrow  flow! 

In  every  clime  they  beat,  with  clenched  hand 
Against  the  stones  of  Israel's  wall  of  woe. 

In  every  land  there  rises,  stern  and  great, 

This  selfsame  wail  of  torment  and  of  fears, 

Its  courses  laid  with  stones  of  scorn  and  hate, 

And  bonded  with  cement  of  blood  and  tears. 

— Louis  Federleicht 


THE  WOES  OF  UNFAITHFUL  ISRAEL 

Thus  hath  the  Lord  God  showed  to  me ; 

And  behold,  he  formed  locusts  in  the  beginning  of  the 
shooting  up  of  the  latter-growth; 

And  lo,  it  was  the  latter-growth  after  the  king’s  mowings. 
And  it  came  to  pass  that  when  they  had  made  an  end  of 
eating  the  grass  of  the  land, 

Then  I  said,  “O  Lord  God,  forgive,  I  beseech  thee: 

By  whom  shall  Jacob  rise?  for  he  is  small!” 

Then  the  Lord  repented  for  this: 

“It  shall  not  be,”  saith  the  Lord. 


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Thus  hath  the  Lord  God  showed  to  me: 

And  behold,  the  Lord  God  called  to  contend  by  fire; 
And  it  devoured  the  great  deep 
And  did  eat  up  a  part  of  the  land. 

Then  I  said,  “O  Lord  God,  cease,  I  beseech  thee: 
By  whom  shall  Jacob  rise?  for  he  is  small!” 

Then  the  Lord  repented  of  this: 

“This  also  shall  not  be/’  saith  the  Lord. 

Thus  he  showed  me; 

And  behold,  the  Lord  stood  upon  a  wall  made  by  a 
plumb  line,  with  a  plumb  line  in  his  hand. 

And  the  Lord  said  to  me,  “Amos,  what  seest  thou?” 
And  I  said,  “A  plumb  line.” 

And  the  Lord  said:  “Behold,  I  will  set  a  plumb  line 
in  the  midst  of  my  people  Israel; 

I  will  not  again  pass  by  them  any  more. 

And  the  high  places  of  Isaac  shall  be  desolate, 

And  the  sanctuaries  of  Israel  shall  be  laid  waste; 
And  I  will  rise  against  the  house  of  Jeroboam  with 
the  sword.” 

Thus  the  Lord  God  showed  to  me: 

And  behold,  a  basket  of  summer  fruit. 

And  he  said,  “Amos,  what  seest  thou?” 

And  I  said,  “A  basket  of  summer  fruit.” 

And  the  Lord  said  to  me:  “The  end  is  come  upon  my 
people  Israel; 

I  will  not  again  pass  by  them  any  more. 

And  the  songs  of  the  temple  shall  be  howlings  in  that 
day. 

There  shall  be  many  dead  bodies  in  every  place; 
They  shall  cast  them  forth  with  silence.” 


THE  SORROWS  OF  A  PEOPLE  WHO  FORGET  GOD  187 


WANDERING  SHEEP 

Give  glory  to  the  Lord  your  God, 

Before  he  cause  darkness, 

And  before  your  feet  stumble  upon  the  dark 
mountains, 

And,  while  ye  look  for  light,  he  turn  it  into  the 
shadow  of  death, 

And  make  it  gross  darkness. 

Where  is  the  flock  that  was  given  thee,  thy 
beautiful  flock? 

What  wilt  thou  say  when  he  shall  punish  thee? 

And  if  thou  say  in  thy  heart,  “Wherefore  come 
these  things  upon  me?” 

For  the  greatness  of  thine  iniquity  are  thy  heels 
made  bare. 

Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin, 

Or  the  leopard  his  spots? 

Then  may  ye  also  do  good, 

That  are  accustomed  to  do  evil. 

Therefore  will  I  scatter  them, 

As  the  stubble  that  passeth  away  by  the  wind  of 
the  wilderness. 

THE  REFUGEES  IN  EGYPT  AND  IN  ASSYRIA 

We  have  given  the  hand  to  the  Egyptians, 

And  to  the  Assyrians,  that  we  might  be 
satisfied  with  food. 

Princes  are  hanged  up  by  their  hand; 

The  faces  of  elders  were  not  honored. 

They  took  the  young  men  to  grind  the  mill, 

And  the  children  stumbled  under  the  wood. 


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The  elders  have  ceased  from  the  gate, 

The  young  men  from  their  music. 

The  joy  of  our  heart  is  ceased; 

Our  dance  is  turned  into  mourning. 

The  crown  is  fallen  from  our  head: 

Woe  to  us!  for  we  have  sinned. 

For  this  our  heart  is  faint; 

For  these  things  our  eyes  are  dim; 

Because  of  the  mountain  of  Zion,  which  is  desolate: 
Jackals  walk  upon  it. 

THE  DOUBT  OF  THE  DARK 

He  calleth  to  me  out  of  Seir: 

44  Watchman,  what  of  the  night? 

Watchman,  what  of  the  night?” 

The  watchman  said, 

44  The  morning  cometh, 

And  also  the  night. 

If  ye  will  inquire,  inquire. 

Return,  come.” 

THE  CRY  OF  AN  EXILED  PEOPLE 

Shepherd  thy  people  with  thy  staff, 

The  flock  of  thy  heritage  which  dwell  solitarily 
In  the  wood,  in  the  midst  of  Carmel. 

Let  them  feed  in  Bashan  and  Gilead,  as  in  the  days  of 
old. 

As  in  the  days  of  thy  coming  out  from  the  land  of  Egypt, 
Will  I  show  them  marvelous  things. 

A  CRY  TO  THE  HEAVENLY  FATHER 
Look  down  from  heaven, 

And  behold  from  the  habitation  of  thy  holiness 
and  of  thy  glory: 


THE  SORROWS  OF  A  PEOPLE  WHO  FORGET  GOD 


189 


ISAIAH  MOURNING  OVER  HIS  PEOPLE 
From  a  drawing  by  Gustave  Dure 


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Where  is  thy  zeal  and  thy  strength, 

The  yearning  of  thy  heart  and  of  thy  mercies 
toward  me? 

Are  they  restrained? 

Doubtless  thou  art  our  Father, 

Though  Abraham  be  ignorant  of  us, 

And  Israel  acknowledge  us  not. 

Thou,  O  Lord,  art  our  Father,  our  Redeemer: 
Thy  name  is  from  everlasting. 


GOD  WILL  NOT  FORGET  HIS  PEOPLE 

God  with  Us 

Now  behold,  the  Lord  bringeth  up  upon  them 
The  waters  of  the  River,  strong  and  many, 

Even  the  king  of  Assyria  and  all  his  glory: 

And  it  shall  come  up  over  all  its  channels, 

And  go  over  all  its  banks; 

And  it  shall  pass  through  Judah; 

It  shall  overflow  and  go  over,  it  shall  reach  even  to 
the  neck; 

But  the  stretching  out  of  his  [God’s]  wings  shall 
fill  the  breadth  of  thy  land, 

For  God  is  with  us. 

Associate  yourselves,  O  ye  peoples,  yet  ye  shall  be 
broken  in  pieces; 

And  give  ear,  all  ye  of  far  countries: 

Gird  yourselves,  yet  ye  shall  be  broken  in  pieces; 
Gird  yourselves,  yet  ye  shall  be  broken  in  pieces. 
Take  counsel  together,  and  it  shall  come  to  nought; 
Speak  the  word,  and  it  shall  not  stand: 

For  God  is  with  us. 


THE  SORROWS  OF  A  PEOPLE  WHO  FORGET  GOD  191 


God  Our  Defender 

In  that  day  shall  the  Lord  defend  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerusalem: 

He  that  is  feeble  among  them  at  that  day  shall  be  as 
David, 

And  the  house  of  David  shall  be  as  God,  as  the  angel  of 
the  Lord  before  them. 

I  will  pour  upon  the  house  of  David, 

And  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit  of  grace 
and  of  supplications: 

They  shall  look  upon  me  whom  they  have  pierced, 

And  they  shall  mourn  for  him,  as  one  mourneth  for  his  only 
son, 

And  shall  be  in  bitterness  for  him,  as  one  that  is  in  bitter¬ 
ness  for  his  first-born. 

In  that  day  shall  there  be  a  great  mourning  in  Jerusalem, 

As  the  mourning  of  Hadadrimmon28  in  the  valley  of  Me- 
giddon. 

The  Mercy  of  Our  God 

It  is  of  the  Lord’s  mercies  that  we  are  not  consumed, 
Because  his  compassions  fail  not. 

They  are  new  every  morning: 

Great  is  thy  faithfulness. 

“The  Lord  is  my  portion,”  saith  my  soul: 

“Therefore  will  I  hope  in  him.” 

The  Lord  is  good  to  them  that  wait  for  him, 

To  the  soul  that  seeketh  him. 

It  is  good  for  a  man  that  he  should  both  hope 
And  quietly  wait  for  the  salvation  of  the  Lord. 

It  is  good  for  a  man 

That  he  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth. 


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He  sitteth  alone  and  keepeth  silence, 

Because  he  hath  laid  it  upon  him. 

He  giveth  his  cheek  to  him  that  smiteth  him; 

He  is  filled  with  reproach. 

For  the  Lord  will  not  cast  off  forever. 

For  though  he  cause  grief,  yet  will  he  have  com¬ 
passion 

According  to  the  multitude  of  his  mercies. 

For  lie  doth  not  afflict  willingly, 

Nor  grieve  the  children  of  men. 

God  Our  Redeemer 

But  now,  thus  saitli  the  Lord  that  created  thee,  O 
Jacob, 

And  he  that  formed  thee,  O  Israel: 

“Fear  not,  for  I  have  redeemed  thee; 

I  have  called  thee  by  thy  name,  thou  art  mine. 

“When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with 
thee ; 

And  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee : 
When  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not 
be  burned; 

Neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee.” 

God,  the  Defender,  with  the  Staff  of  Doom 

The  Lord  will  cause  his  glorious  voice  to  be  heard, 
And  will  show  the  lighting  down  of  his  arm, 

With  the  indignation  of  his  anger, 

And  with  the  flame  of  a  devouring  fire, 

With  scattering,  and  tempest,  and  hailstones. 

For,  through  the  voice  of  the  Lord, 

Shall  the  Assvrian  be  beaten  down, 

Who  smote  with  a  rod. 


THE  SORROWS  OF  A  PEOPLE  WHO  FORGET  GOD  193 


And  in  every  place  where  the  staff  of  doom  shall  pass, 
Which  the  Lord  shall  lay  upon  him, 

It  shall  be  with  tabrets  and  harps; 

And  in  battles  with  the  brandishing  of  his  arm  he 
shall  fight  with  them. 


THE  EXILE’S  LIGHT 

From  a  drawing  by  I  Alien 
Permission  of  B.  W.  Huebsch 

“Thy  word  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet  and  a  light  unto  my  path.” 

“In  ‘The  Exile’s  Light’  the  head  of  an  old  man  is  seen  looking  up  from  a  Bible,  his 
hand  resting  lovingly  on  its  open  page.  The  table  on  which  the  book  rests,  as  well  as  the 
shelf  behind  with  the  candles,  gives  a  horizontality  to  the  composition,  broken  by  the 
vertical  tapers  in  the  foreground  and  back.  A  cleverly  conceived  border  of  ram’s  horns  and 
palms,  objects  used  on  Atonement  Day,  frames  the  illustration.  When  darkness  and  danger 
threaten  him,  when  poverty  and  despair  oppress  him,  when  life  is  a  burden  and  hope  well- 
nigh  abandoned,  this  Book,  this  sacred  Word  of  the  Law,  is  his  sole  light,  his  comfort  and 
his  guide.” 


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THE  DOOM 

OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 

These  doom  songs  are  not  to  be  judged  merely  for  the  hatred  they 
display,  a  hatred  that  has  been  known  in  our  own  day  in  time  of  war  and 
oppression.  The  Jews  also  saw,  in  the  approaching  destruction  of  their 
foes,  evidences  of  the  working  out  of  an  Infinite  Justice.  There  is  always 
a  dignity  about  these  foreseeings  of  ruin;  they  sound  on  the  ear  with 
solemnity,  like  a  knell,  over  the  fate  of  those  who  rose  up  against  the 
peaceful  and  the  humble,  and  did  them  wrong. 

JEHOVAH’S  DAY  OF  JUDGMENT 

I 

THE  day  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  be 
LTpon  every  one  that  is  proud  and  lofty; 

Upon  every  one  that  is  lifted  up,  and  he  shall  be 
brought  low; 

Upon  all  the  cedars  of  Lebanon,  that  are  high  and 
lifted  up; 

Upon  all  the  oaks  of  Bashan, 

Upon  all  the  high  mountains, 

Upon  all  the  hills  that  are  lifted  up, 

Upon  every  high  tower, 

Upon  every  fenced  wall, 

Upon  all  the  ships  of  Tarshish, 

Upon  all  pleasant  watchtowers. 

The  loftiness  of  man  shall  be  bowed  down, 

The  haughtiness  of  men  shall  be  made  low, 

And  the  Lord  alone  shall  be  exalted 
In  that  day; 

And  the  idols  he  shall  utterly  abolish. 

They  shall  go  into  the  holes  of  the  rocks 
And  into  the  caves  of  the  earth, 


195 


196 


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For  fear  of  the  Lord, 

And  for  the  glory  of  his  majesty, 

When  he  ariseth  to  shake  terribly  the  earth. 

In  that  day  shall  a  man  cast  away  his  idols  of  silver 
and  his  idols  of  gold, 

Which  they  made  each  one  for  himself  to  worship, 
To  the  moles  and  to  the  bats; 

To  go  into  the  clefts  of  the  rocks, 

And  into  the  tops  of  the  ragged  rocks, 

For  fear  of  the  Lord, 

And  for  the  glory  of  his  majesty, 

When  he  ariseth  to  shake  terribly  the  earth. 

II 

Put  ye  in  the  sickle,  for  the  harvest  is  ripe; 

Come  get  you  down,  for  the  press  is  full,  the  vats 
overflow ; 

For  their  wickedness  is  great. 

Multitudes,  multitudes  in  the  valley  of  decision! 
For  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  near  in  the  valley  of 
decision. 

The  sun  and  the  moon  shall  be  darkened, 

And  the  stars  shall  withdraw  their  shining. 

The  Lord  also  shall  roar  out  of  Zion, 

And  utter  his  voice  from  Jerusalem; 

And  the  heavens  and  the  earth  shall  shake; 

But  the  Lord  will  be  the  hope  of  his  people, 

And  the  strength  of  the  children  of  Israel. 

So  shall  ye  know  that  I  am  the  Lord  your  God, 
Dwelling  in  Zion,  my  holy  mountain; 

Then  shall  Jerusalem  be  holy, 

And  there  shall  no  strangers  pass  through  her  any 


more. 


THE  DOOM  OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 


107 


III 

Behold,  the  Lord  maketli  the  earth  empty, 

And  he  maketh  it  waste, 

And  turneth  it  upside  down, 

And  scattereth  abroad  the  inhabitants  thereof. 
And  it  shall  be,  as  with  the  people,  so  with  the 
priest; 

As  with  the  servant,  so  with  his  master; 

As  with  the  maid,  so  with  her  mistress; 

As  with  the  lender,  so  with  the  borrower; 

As  with  the  taker  of  usury,  so  with  the  giver  of 
usury  to  him. 

The  land  shall  be  utterly  emptied, 

And  utterly  spoiled, 

For  the  Lord  hath  spoken  this  word. 

The  earth  mourneth  and  fadeth  away, 

The  world  languisheth  and  fadeth  away, 

The  haughty  people  of  the  earth  do  languish. 

The  earth  also  is  defiled  under  the  inhabitants 
thereof ; 

Because  they  have  transgressed  the  laws, 

Changed  the  ordinance,  broken  the  everlasting 
covenant. 

Therefore  hath  the  curse  devoured  the  earth, 

And  they  that  dwell  therein  are  desolate; 
Therefore  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  are  burned, 
And  few  men  left. 

ODE  ON  THE  COMING  DESTRUCTION  OF 

BABYLON 

The  Summons  Against  Babylon 

Lift  ye  up  a  banner  upon  the  high  mountain ! 

Lift  up  the  voice  to  them! 


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Wave  the  hand,  that  they  may  go  into  the  gates  of 
the  nobles. 

I  have  commanded  my  consecrated  ones, 

I  have  also  called  my  mighty  ones  for  mine  anger, 
Even  them  that  rejoice  in  my  majesty. 

The  noise  of  a  multitude  in  the  mountains,  like  as  of  a 
great  people! 

A  tumultuous  noise  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  nations 
gathered  together ! 

The  Lord  of  hosts  mustereth  the  host  for  the  battle. 

The  Approach  of  Babylon’s  Conquerors 

They  come  from  a  far  country, 

From  the  end  of  heaven, 

Even  the  Lord  and  the  weapons  of  his  indignation, 
To  destroy  the  whole  land. 

Howl  ye;  for  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  at  hand; 

It  shall  come  as  a  destruction  from  the  Almighty. 
Therefore  shall  all  hands  be  faint, 

And  every  man’s  heart  shall  melt: 

And  they  shall  be  afraid; 

Pangs  and  sorrows  shall  take  hold  of  them; 

They  shall  stare  one  at  another; 

Their  faces  shall  be  as  flames. 

The  Dark  Day  of  the  Conquest 

Behold,  the  day  of  the  Lord  cometh, 

Cruel,  both  with  wrath  and  fierce  anger, 

To  lay  the  land  desolate: 

And  he  shall  destroy  the  sinners  thereof  out  of  it. 

For  the  stars  of  heaven  and  the  constellations  thereof 
shall  not  give  their  light; 

The  sun  shall  be  darkened  in  his  going  forth, 

And  the  moon  shall  not  cause  her  light  to  shine. 

I  will  punish  the  world  for  its  evil, 


THE  DOOM  OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 


199 


And  the  wicked  for  their  iniquity; 

I  will  cause  the  arrogancy  of  the  proud  to  cease, 
And  I  will  lay  low  the  haughtiness  of  the  terrible. 

I  will  make  a  man  more  rare  than  fine  gold, 

Even  a  man  than  the  gold  wedge  of  Ophir. 
Therefore  I  will  shake  the  heavens, 

And  the  earth  shall  remove  out  of  her  place, 

In  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  of  hosts, 

And  in  the  day  of  his  fierce  anger. 

The  Flight  of  the  Babylonians 

They  shall  be  like  the  chased  roe, 

And  like  a  sheep  which  no  man  taketh  up: 

They  shall  every  man  turn  to  his  own  people, 

And  flee  every  one  to  his  own  land. 

Every  one  that  is  found  shall  be  thrust  through: 
And  every  one  that  is  taken  shall  fall  by  the  sword. 
Their  children  also  shall  be  dashed  to  pieces  before 
their  eyes; 

And  their  houses  shall  be  spoiled. 

Behold,  I  will  stir  up  the  Medes  against  them, 

Who  shall  not  regard  silver; 

And  as  for  gold,  they  shall  not  delight  in  it. 

Their  bows  also  shall  dash  the  young  men  in  pieces; 
And  they  shall  have  no  pity  on  the  little  ones: 
Their  eye  shall  not  spare  the  children. 

The  Utter  Ruin  of  the  City 

And  Babylon,  the  glory  of  kingdoms, 

The  beauty  of  the  Chaldeans’  pride, 

Shall  be  as  when  God  overthrew  Sodom  and  Go¬ 
morrah. 

It  shall  never  be  inhabited, 

Neither  shall  it  be  dwelt  in  from  generation  to 
generation : 


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THE  DOOM  OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 


201 


Neither  shall  the  Arabian  pitch  tent  there; 
Neither  shall  the  shepherds  make  their  fold  there. 
But  wild  beasts  of  the  desert  shall  lie  there; 

Their  houses  shall  be  full  of  doleful  creatures; 
And  owls  shall  dwell  there, 

And  satyrs  shall  dance  there. 

The  wild  beasts  of  the  islands  shall  cry  in  their 
desolate  houses, 

And  dragons29  in  their  pleasant  palaces. 

Her  time  is  near  to  come 

And  her  days  shall  not  be  prolonged. 

THE  DOOM  OF  BABYLON 

How  hath  the  oppressor  ceased! 

The  golden  city  ceased! 

The  Lord  hath  broken  the  staff  of  the  wicked, 
And  the  scepter  of  the  rulers; 

He  who  smote  the  peoples  in  wrath 
With  a  continual  stroke, 

That  ruled  the  nations  in  anger, 

Is  persecuted,  and  none  hindereth. 

The  whole  earth  is  at  rest,  and  is  quiet: 

They  break  forth  into  singing! 

Yea,  the  fir  trees  rejoice  at  thee, 

And  the  cedars  of  Lebanon,  saying, 

“Since  thou  art  laid  low, 

No  woodsman  is  come  up  against  us.” 

Hell  from  beneath  thee  is  moved  for  thee 
To  meet  thee  at  thy  coming: 

It  stirreth  up  the  dead  for  thee, 

Even  all  the  chief  ones  of  the  earth; 

It  hath  raised  up  from  their  thrones 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


All  the  kings  of  the  nations. 

All  they  shall  speak  and  say  to  thee, 

“Art  thou  also  become  weak  as  we? 

Art  thou  become  like  us?” 

Thy  pomp  is  brought  down  to  the  grave, 

And  the  noise  of  thy  viols: 

The  worm  is  spread  under  thee, 

And  the  worms  cover  thee. 

How  art  thou  fallen  from  heaven, 

O  Lucifer,30  son  of  the  morning! 

How  art  thou  cut  down  to  the  ground, 

That  didst  weaken  the  nations! 

For  thou  saidst  in  thy  heart:  “I  will  ascend 
into  heaven, 

I  will  exalt  my  throne  above  the  stars  of  God. 
I  will  sit  also  on  the  mount  of  assembly, 

In  the  depths  of  the  north: 

I  will  ascend  above  the  heights  of  the  clouds; 
I  will  be  like  the  Most  High.” 

Yea,  thou  art  brought  down  to  hell, 

To  the  depths  of  the  pit. 

They  that  see  thee  shall  stare  upon  thee, 

And  consider  thee,  saying: 

“Is  this  the  man  that  made  earth  to  tremble, 
That  did  shake  kingdoms; 

That  made  the  world  as  a  wilderness, 

And  destroyed  the  cities  thereof  ? 

That  opened  not  the  house  of  his  prisoners?” 
All  the  kings  of  the  nations,  even  all  of  them, 
lie  in  glory, 

Every  one  in  his  own  house. 

But  thou  art  cast  forth  from  thy  grave  like  an 
abominable  branch, 


THE  DOOM  OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 


203 


BABYLON  FALLEN 

From  a  drawing  by  Gustave  Dore 

“And  Babylon,  the  glory  of  kingdoms,  the  beauty  of  the  Chaldeans’  pride,  shall  be 
as  when  God  overthrew  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  It  shall  never  be  inhabited.’’ 


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And  like  the  raiment  of  those  that  are  slain, 
thrust  through  with  the  sword; 

That  go  down  to  the  stones  of  the  pit, 

Like  a  dead  body  trampled  under  feet. 

Thou  shalt  not  be  joined  with  them  in  burial, 
Because  thou  hast  destroyed  thy  land, 

And  slain  thy  people. 

The  offspring  of  evildoers  shall  never  be  named. 

BABYLON 

The  many-colored  domes 
Yet  wore  one  dusky  hue; 

The  cranes  upon  the  mosque 
Kept  their  night-clatter  still. 

When  through  the  gate  the  early  traveler  passed; 

And  when,  at  evening,  o’er  the  swampy  plain 
The  bittern’s  boom  came  far, 

Distinct  in  darkness  seen 
Above  the  low  horizon’s  lingering  light. 

Rose  the  near  ruins  of  old  Babylon. 

Once  from  her  lofty  walls  the  charioteer 
Looked  down  on  swarming  myriads;  once  she  flung 
Her  arches  o’er  Euphrates’  conquered  tide, 

And  through  her  brazen  portals  when  she  poured 
Her  armies  forth,  the  distant  nations  looked 
As  men  who  watch  the  thundercloud  in  fear, 

Lest  it  should  burst  above  them.  She  was  fallen! 

The  Queen  of  cities,  Babylon,  was  fallen! 

Low  lay  her  bulwarks;  the  black  scorpion  basked 
In  the  palace  courts;  within  the  sanctuary 
The  she-wolf  hid  her  whelps. 

Is  yonder  huge  and  shapeless  heap,  what  once 
Hath  been  the  aerial  gardens,  height  on  height 
Rising  like  Media’s  mountains  crowned  with  wood, 
Work  of  imperial  dotage?  Where  the  fame 
Of  Belus?  Where  the  Golden  Image  now, 

Which  at  the  sound  of  dulcimer  and  lute. 

Cornet  and  sackbut,  harp  and  psaltery, 

The  Assyrian  slaves  adored? 

A  labyrinth  of  ruins,  Babylon 


THE  DOOM  OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 


205 


Spreads  o'er  the  blasted  plain; 

The  wandering  Arab  never  sets  his  tent 
Within  her  walls;  the  shepherd  eyes  afar 
Her  evil  towers,  and  devious  drives  his  flock. 

Alone  unchanged,  a  free  and  bridgeless  tide, 

Euphrates  rolls  along, 

Eternal  nature’s  work. 

— Robert  Southey 

THE  DOOM  OF  EGYPT 

It  is  plain  to  see  that  the  crocodile,  the  emblem  of  Egypt,  is  ‘The 
monster  in  the  seas”  concerning  which  this  prophecy  of  destruction  is 
uttered. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  twelfth  year,  in  the  twelfth 
month,  in  the  first  day  of  the  month,  that  the  word  of  the 
Lord  came  to  me,  saying,  “Son  of  man,  take  up  a  lamentation 
for  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt,  and  say  to  him: 

“‘Thou  art  like  a  young  lion  of  the  nations: 

And  thou  art  like  a  monster  in  the  seas; 

And  thou  earnest  forth  with  thy  rivers, 

And  troubledst  the  waters  with  thy  feet, 

And  fouledst  their  rivers. 

“‘Thus  saith  the  Lord  God: 

I  will  therefore  spread  out  my  net  over  thee 
With  a  company  of  many  peoples; 

And  they  shall  bring  thee  up  in  my  net. 

Then  will  I  leave  thee  upon  the  land, 

I  will  cast  thee  forth  upon  the  open  field, 

And  will  cause  all  the  fowls  of  the  heaven  to 
settle  upon  thee, 

I  will  fill  the  beasts  of  the  whole  earth  with  thee. 

I  will  lay  thy  flesh  upon  the  mountains, 

And  fill  the  valleys  with  thy  height. 

I  will  also  water  with  thy  blood 
The  land  wherein  thou  swimmest,  even  to  the 
mountains: 


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THE  PYRAMIDS  OF  EGYPT 


THE  DOOM  OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 


207 


And  the  rivers  shall  be  full  of  thee. 

And  when  I  shall  put  thee  out,  I  will  cover  the 
heaven, 

And  make  the  stars  thereof  dark; 

I  will  cover  the  sun  with  a  cloud, 

And  the  moon  shall  not  give  her  light. 

All  the  bright  lights  of  heaven  will  I  make  dark 
over  thee, 

And  set  darkness  upon  thy  land,  saith  the  Lord 
God.’” 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  BEAUTIFUL 
PRINCE  OF  TYRE 

Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me,  saying,  “Son 
of  man,  take  up  a  lamentation  for  the  king  of  Tyre,31  and  say 
to  him: 

“‘Thus  saith  the  Lord  God: 

Thou  sealest  up  the  measure,  full  of  wisdom,  and 
perfect  in  beauty. 

Thou  hast  been  in  Eden,  the  garden  of  God: 

Every  precious  stone  was  thy  covering, 

The  sardius,  the  topaz,  and  the  diamond, 

The  beryl,  the  onyx,  and  the  jasper, 

The  sapphire,  the  emerald,  and  the  carbuncle,  and  gold: 

The  workmanship  of  thy  tabrets  and  of  thy  pipes  was 
prepared  in  thee, 

In  the  day  that  thou  wast  created. 

Thou  art  the  anointed  cherub  that  covereth: 

And  I  have  set  thee,  so  thou  wast  upon  the  holy 
mountain  of  God; 

Thou  hast  walked  up  and  down  in  the  midst  of  the 
stones  of  fire. 

Thou  wast  perfect  in  thy  ways  from  the  day  that 
thou  wast  created, 


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Till  iniquity  was  found  in  thee. 

By  the  multitude  of  thy  merchandise  they  have  filled 
the  midst  of  thee  with  violence, 

And  thou  hast  sinned: 

44  'Therefore  will  I  cast  thee  as  profane  out  of  the 
mountain  of  God; 

And  I  will  destroy  thee,  O  covering  cherub, 

From  the  midst  of  the  stones  of  fire. 

Thy  heart  was  lifted  up  because  of  thy  beauty, 

Thou  hast  corrupted  thy  wisdom  by  reason  of  thy 
brightness : 

I  will  cast  thee  to  the  ground, 

I  will  lay  thee  before  kings, 

That  they  may  behold  thee. 

Thou  hast  defiled  thy  sanctuaries 
By  the  multitude  of  thine  iniquities, 

In  the  iniquity  of  thy  traffic; 

Therefore  will  I  bring  forth  a  fire  from  the  midst 
of  thee, 

It  shall  devour  thee; 

And  I  will  bring  thee  to  ashes  upon  the  earth 
In  the  sight  of  all  them  that  behold  thee. 

All  they  that  know  thee  among  the  peoples  shall  be 
astonished  at  thee: 

Thou  shalt  be  a  terror, 

And  never  shalt  thou  be  any  more.’  ” 

THE  UTTER  RUIN  OF  TYRE 

And  they  shall  destroy  the  walls  of  Tyre,32 
And  break  down  her  towers; 

I  will  also  scrape  her  dust  from  her, 

And  make  her  like  the  top  of  a  rock. 

It  shall  be  a  place  for  spreading  of  nets  in  the  midst 
of  the  sea. 


THE  DOOM  OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 


209 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  ENEMIES  OF  GOD 

And  it  shall  be  as  when  a  hungry  man  dreameth, 
and,  behold,  he  eateth; 

But  he  awaketh,  and  his  soul  is  empty: 

Or  as  when  a  thirsty  man  dreameth,  and,  behold, 
he  drinketh; 

But  he  awaketh,  and,  behold,  he  is  faint, 

And  his  soul  hath  appetite: 

So  shall  the  multitude  of  all  the  nations  be, 

That  fight  against  mount  Zion. 

TYRE 

High  on  the  stately  wall. 

The  spear  of  Arvad  hung; 

Through  corridor  and  hall 

Gemaddin’s  war  note  rung. 

Where  are  they  now?  the  note  is  o’er; 

Yes,  for  a  thousand  years  or  more 
Five  fathom  deep  beneath  the  sea 
Those  halls  have  lain  all  silently; 

Naught  listing  save  the  mermaid’s  song. 

While  rude  sea  monsters  roam  the  corridors  along. 

Far  from  the  wandering  East 
Tubal  and  Javan  came, 

And  Araby  the  blest, 

And  Kedar,  mighty  name. 

Now  on  that  shore,  a  lonely  guest, 

Some  dripping  fisherman  may  rest, 

Watching  on  rock  or  naked  stone 
His  dark  net  spread  before  the  sun, 

Unconscious  of  the  dooming  lay. 

That  broods  o’er  that  dull  spot,  and  there  shall 
brood  for  aye. 


— Richard  Harr  ell  Froude 


210 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


THE  RUINS  OF  TYRE 

You  are  looking  south  from  the  end  of  the  rocky  peninsula  on  which 
Tyre  is  situated.  Across  the  little  bay  of  Tyre  you  can  see  the  Phoenician 
coast  lying  with  its  fringe  of  trees  and  the  misty  foothills  of  Lebanon. 
Acre  and  Mount  Carmel  are  off  the  picture  to  the  right. 

Ancient  Tyre  was  built  on  a  rocky  island  half  a  mile  from  the  coast. 
Her  bulwark  was  the  sea;  her  wealth  was  won  from  the  sea,  either  by  her 
fisheries,  or  by  her  manufactures  of  Tyrian  purple,  or  by  her  masters  of 
the  galleys.  She  was  the  head  of  a  proud  empire;  her  sails  whitened  every 
sea,  even  the  stormy  seas  that  encompass  Britain  and  the  Azores.  Her 
colonists  dotted  the  entire  circle  of  the  Mediterranean. 

As  Ezekiel  sang  in  his  song,  “The  Wreck  of  the  Goodly  Ship  Tyre”: 

“Thy  builders  have  perfected  thy  beauty. 

They  have  made  all  thy  planks  of  fir  trees  from  Senir; 

They  have  taken  cedars  from  Lebanon  to  make  masts  for  thee. 

Of  the  oaks  of  Bashan  have  they  made  thine  oars; 

They  have  made  thy  benches  of  ivory  inlaid  with  boxwood, 
brought  out  of  the  isles  of  Kittim. 

Of  fine  linen  with  broidered  work  from  Egypt  was  thy  sail 

That  it  might  be  to  thee  for  an  ensign; 

Blue  and  purple  from  the  isles  of  Elishah  was  thine  awning. 

The  inhabitants  of  Sidon  and  iVrvad  were  thy  rowers: 

Thy  wise  men,  O  Tyre,  that  were  in  thee  were  thy  pilots.” 

Portions  of  the  wreckage  of  this  goodly  vessel  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
foreground  of  the  picture.  They  are  the  columns  from  some  resplendent 
temple  built  in  the  days  of  her  glory — of  red  granite  and  gray  from  the 
cataract  of  Egypt.  For  not  only  did  the  destruction  foreseen  by  Ezekiel 
come  upon  her,  but  many  another  storm  of  war  has  strewn  her  coast  with 
the  wreckage  of  her  greatness.  The  Assyrians  took  the  city  in  664  B.C.; 
the  Chaldeans  besieged  it  for  thirteen  years;  Alexander  the  Great  utterly 
destroyed  it  in  332,  after  a  siege  of  seven  months;  Antigonus  took  the 
rebuilt  city  in  314;  it  was  conquered  by  Egypt,  by  the  Seleucids,  by  the 
Romans,  by  the  Saracens,  and  by  the  Crusaders.  Its  form  changes  like 
that  of  the  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  but  it  still  continues  to  live.  Today  there 
are  more  than  seven  thousand  people  dwelling  on  the  identical  site  of  old 
Tyre.  It  was  the  ruins  and  rubbish  of  ancient  Tyre  that  furnished 
material  for  the  gigantic  mole  built  by  Alexander  the  Great  during  his 
memorable  siege.  We  must  remember  that  Tyre  was  at  that  time  com¬ 
pletely  surrounded  by  prodigious  walls  which  were  said  to  have  been  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  high  towards  the  mainland.  Aided  by  his  Phoe¬ 
nician  and  Cyprian  allies  who  blockaded  the  harbor,  Alexander  finally 
succeeded  in  laying  a  causeway  two  hundred  feet  wide  out  to  the  island. 


THE  DOOM  OF  WORLDLY  NATIONS 


211 


© Underwood  &  Underwood 

THE  RUINS  OF  TYRE 

“It  shall  he  a  place  for  spreading  of  nets  in  the  midst  of  the  sea” 


212 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


From  a  fresco  by  John  S.  Sargent 

“All  they  gather  themselves  together,  they  come  to  thee:  thy  sons  shall  come  from  far,  and  thy  daughters  shall  be  nursed  at 
thy  side.  ...  A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand,  and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation.” 


THE  GLORIOUS  FUTURE 

Our  own  literature  is  full  of  dreams  of  a  Golden  Age.  We  love  to  read 
of  Utopia,  of  the  New  Atlantis,  of  the  City  in  the  Sun,  of  the  Land  of 
Beulah.  The  Bible  has  its  anticipations  of  a  Better  Country,  and  it 
contains  no  more  eloquent  and  moving  passages  than  the  songs  that  tell 
of  a  time  when  social  evils  shall  be  done  away  with,  and  the  full  purpose 
of  the  God  of  righteousness  shall  be  fulfilled. 

Naturally,  many  of  these  poems  tell  of  Israel's  Return  from  Captivity; 
but  there  are  many  that  have  a  wider  sweep  and  have  been  a  comfort  to 
men  of  other  races,  because  they  seem  to  point  to  God's  greater  purpose, 
in  many  lands  and  to  the  end  of  time. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  it  is  upon  a  real  earth  that  the  new  heaven  is 
to  be  budded.  Life  is  to  be  truly  worth  living  in  the  Glorious  Age.  The 
land  is  for  all;  families  live  together  in  settled  habitations  of  their  own, 
under  their  own  vine  and  fig  tree;  and  the  joy  is  of  a  happy  people  who 
rejoice  in  the  work  of  their  hands.  It  is  a  millennium  of  fruitful,  well- 
rewarded  labor. 

Yet  spiritual  blessings  crown  it  all.  It  is  the  Lord  God  who  is  to  be 
the  everlasting  light  and  glory  of  the  people  whom  he  shall  redeem. 

“All  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord, 

And  great  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children.” 


A  TRIUMPHAL  ODE  UPON  THE  RETURN 


ARISE,  shine;  for  thy  light  is  come, 

.  And  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee. 
For,  behold,  the  darkness  shall  cover  the  earth, 
And  gross  darkness  the  people; 

But  the  Lord  shall  arise  upon  thee, 

And  his  glory  shall  be  seen  upon  thee. 

Gentiles  shall  come  to  thy  light, 

And  kings  to  the  brightness  of  thy  rising. 


Lift  up  thine  eyes  round  about,  and  see: 

All  they  gather  themselves  together,  they  come  to 
thee ; 

213 


214 


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THE  GLORIOUS  FUTURE 


9 1 

/V  X 


Thy  sons  shall  come  from  far, 

And  thy  daughters  shall  be  nursed  at  thy  side. 
Then  shalt  thou  see  and  be  radiant, 

And  thy  heart  shall  fear  and  be  enlarged; 

Because  the  abundance  of  the  sea  shall  be  turned 
to  thee, 

The  forces  of  the  Gentiles  shall  come  to  thee. 

The  multitude  of  camels  shall  cover  thee, 

The  dromedaries  of  Midian  and  Ephah; 

All  they  from  Sheba  shall  come; 

They  shall  bring  gold  and  incense, 

And  they  shall  show  forth  the  praises  of  the 
Lord. 

All  the  flocks  of  Kedar  shall  be  gathered  to  thee, 
The  rams  of  Nebaioth  shall  minister  to  thee; 
They  shall  come  up  with  acceptance  on  mine 
altar, 

And  I  will  glorify  the  house  of  my  glory. 

Who  are  these  that  fly  as  a  cloud, 

And  like  the  doves  to  their  windows? 

Surely  the  isles  shall  wait  for  me, 

And  the  ships  of  Tarshish  first, 

To  bring  thy  sons  from  afar, 

Their  silver  and  their  gold  with  them, 

To  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God, 

And  to  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 

Because  he  hath  glorified  thee. 

And  the  sons  of  strangers  shall  build  up  thy  walls, 
And  their  kings  shall  minister  to  thee; 

For  in  my  wrath  I  smote  thee, 

But  in  my  favor  have  I  had  mercy  upon  thee. 
Therefore  thy  gates  shall  be  open  continually; 
They  shall  not  be  shut  day  nor  night; 


2 16 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


That  men  may  bring  to  thee  the  wealth  of  the 
Gentiles, 

And  their  kings  led  captive. 

The  glory  of  Lebanon  shall  come  to  thee, 

The  fir  tree,  the  pine  and  the  box  together, 

To  beautify  the  place  of  my  sanctuary; 

And  I  will  make  the  place  of  my  feet  glorious. 

The  sons  also  of  them  that  afflicted  thee  shall  come 
bending  unto  thee; 

And  all  they  that  despised  thee  shall  bow  down 
at  the  soles  of  thy  feet ; 

And  they  shall  call  thee,  “The  City  of  the  Lord,” 
“The  Zion  of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel.” 

Whereas  thou  hast  been  forsaken, 

And  hated,  so  that  no  man  went  through  thee, 

I  will  make  thee  an  eternal  excellency, 

A  joy  of  many  generations. 

Thou  shalt  suck  the  milk  of  the  Gentiles, 

And  shaft  suck  the  breast  of  kings; 

Thou  shalt  know  that  I  the  Lord  am  thy  Savior, 
And  thy  Redeemer,  the  Mighty  One  of  Jacob. 

For  brass  I  will  bring  gold, 

And  for  iron  I  will  bring  silver. 

I  will  also  make  thy  officers  peace, 

And  thy  taskmasters  righteousness. 

Violence  shall  no  more  be  heard  in  thy  land. 
Wasting  nor  destruction  within  thy  borders; 

And  thou  shalt  call  thy  walls  Salvation, 

And  thy  gates  Praise. 

The  sun  shall  be  no  more  thy  light  by  day; 

Neither  for  brightness  shall  the  moon  give  light 
to  thee; 


THE  GLORIOUS  FUTURE 


217 


But  the  Lord  God  shall  be  to  thee  an  everlasting 
light, 

And  thy  God  thy  glory. 

Thy  sun  shall  no  more  go  down, 

Neither  shall  thy  moon  withdraw  itself; 

For  the  Lord  will  be  thine  everlasting  light, 

And  the  days  of  thy  mourning  shall  be  ended. 

Thy  people  also  shall  ah  of  them  be  righteous; 
They  shall  inherit  the  land  forever, 

The  branch  of  my  planting, 

The  work  of  my  hands,  that  I  may  be  glorified. 

A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand, 

And  a  small  one  a  great  nation  ; 

I,  the  Lord,  will  hasten  it  in  its  time. 

THE  RETURN  OF  THE  PRODIGAL  SON 

I  have  surely  heard  Ephraim  bemoaning  himself 
thus : 

“Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and  I  was  chastised, 

As  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke: 

Turn  thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned, 

For  thou  art  the  Lord  my  God. 

Surely  after  I  was  turned  I  repented, 

And  after  I  was  instructed  I  smote  upon  my  thigh : 
I  was  ashamed,  yea,  even  confounded, 

Because  I  did  bear  the  reproach  of  my  youth.” 

“Is  Ephraim  my  dear  son? 

Is  he  a  pleasant  child? 

For  since  I  spoke  against  him,  I  do  earnestly 
remember  him  still : 

Therefore  my  heart  is  troubled  for  him : 

I  will  surely  have  mercy  upon  him,”  saith  the 
Lord. 


218 


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THE  GLORIOUS  FUTURE 


CZ 19 


“Set  thee  up  waymarks, 

Make  thee  high  heaps, 

Set  thy  heart  toward  the  highway, 

Even  the  way  which  thou  wen  test: 

Turn  again,  O  maiden  of  Israel, 

Turn  again  to  these  thy  cities.” 

Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
“Yet  shall  they  use  this  speech  in  the  land  of 
Judah, 

And  in  the  cities  thereof,  when  I  shall  bring  again 
their  captivity: 

‘The  Lord  bless  thee,  O  habitation  of  justice, 

And  mountain  of  holiness!’ 

And  there  shall  dwell  in  Judah  itself,  and  in  all 
the  cities  thereof  together, 

Husbandmen,  and  they  that  go  forth  with  flocks. 

For  I  have  satiated  the  weary  soul, 

And  I  have  replenished  every  sorrowful  soul.” 

Upon  this  I  awaked,  and  beheld; 

And  my  sleep  was  sweet  to  me. 

SONGS  OF  THE  RETURN 

I 

I  will  bring  the  blind  by  a  way  that  they  knew  not; 
I  will  lead  them  in  paths  that  they  have  not  known ; 
I  will  make  darkness  light  before  them, 

And  crooked  things  straight. 

These  things  will  I  do  to  them, 

And  not  forsake  them. 

II 

Seek  ye  out  of  the  book  of  the  Lord,  and  read: 

“No  one  of  these  shall  fail, 


220 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


None  shall  want  her  mate”; 

For  my  mouth  it  hath  commanded, 

And  his  spirit,  it  hath  gathered  them. 

And  he  hath  cast  the  lot  for  them, 

And  his  hand  hath  divided  it  to  them  by  line; 
They  shall  possess  it  forever, 

From  generation  to  generation  shall  they  dwell 
therein. 


III 

I  will  increase  them  with  men  like  a  flock. 

As  the  holy  flock, 

As  the  flock  of  Jerusalem  in  their  solemn  feasts; 
So  shall  the  waste  cities  be  filled  with  flocks  of 
men ; 

And  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 

IV 

I  am  the  Lord  thy  God, 

The  Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy  Savior. 

I  gave  Egypt  for  thy  ransom, 

Ethiopia  and  Seba  for  thee. 

Since  thou  wast  precious  in  my  sight, 

And  honorable,  and  I  have  loved  thee, 

Therefore  will  I  give  men  for  thee, 

And  people  for  thy  life. 

Fear  not!  for  I  am  with  thee: 

I  will  bring  thine  offspring  from  the  east, 

And  gather  thee  from  the  west; 

I  will  say  to  the  north,  “Give  up”; 

And  to  the  south,  “Keep  not  back”: 

Bring  my  sons  from  far, 

And  my  daughters  from  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
Even  every  one  that  is  called  by  my  name; 


THE  GLORIOUS  FUTURE 


221 


For  I  have  created  him,  for  my  glory; 

I  have  formed  him,  yea,  I  have  made  him. 

V 

Awake,  awake!  put  on  thy  strength,  0  Zion; 

Put  on  thy  beautiful  garments,  O  Jerusalem,  the 
Holy  City. 

Shake  thyself  from  the  dust,  rise,  and  sit  down; 

Loose  thyself  from  the  bands  of  thy  neck,  O 
captive  daughter  of  Zion. 

For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  ‘‘Ye  have  sold  your¬ 
selves  for  nought, 

And  ye  shall  be  redeemed  without  money.” 

VI 

Israel  shall  be  saved  in  the  Lord  with  an  ever¬ 
lasting  salvation; 

Ye  shall  not  be  ashamed  nor  confounded,  world 
without  end. 


VII 

And  he  shall  set  up  an  ensign  for  the  nations, 
And  shall  assemble  the  outcasts  of  Israel, 

And  gather  together  the  dispersed  of  Judah 
From  the  four  corners  of  the  earth. 

VIII 

But  they  shall  sit  every  man  under  his  vine  and 
under  his  fig  tree, 

And  none  shall  make  them  afraid; 

For  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it. 

For  all  people  will  walk  every  one  in  the  name 
of  his  god, 

And  we  will  walk  in  the  name  of  our  God  forever 
and  ever. 


THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 


oao 

/Wa»'/W 


IX 

The  Lord  will  have  mercy  on  Jacob, 

And  will  yet  choose  Israel, 

And  set  them  in  their  own  land. 

The  strangers  shall  be  joined  with  them, 

And  they  shall  cleave  to  the  house  of  Jacob. 

The  people  shall  take  them,  and  bring  them  to 
their  place; 

The  house  of  Israel  shall  possess  them  in  the  land 
of  the  Lord  for  servants  and  handmaids; 
They  shall  take  them  captives,  whose  captives 
they  were; 

And  they  shall  rule  over  their  oppressors. 

THE  RETURN  OF  THE  MOTHER  WITH 

HER  CHILDREN 

Sing,  O  childless  one,  thou  that  hast  not  borne; 

Break  forth  into  singing,  and  cry  aloud,  thou  that  hast 
not  travailed; 

For  more  are  the  children  of  the  desolate 
Than  the  children  of  the  married  wife. 

Enlarge  the  place  of  thy  tent, 

And  let  them  stretch  forth  the  curtains  of  thy  habitations ; 
Spare  not;  lengthen  thy  cords, 

And  strengthen  thy  stakes: 

For  thou  shalt  break  forth  on  the  right  hand  and  on 
the  left, 

And  thy  family  shall  inherit  the  Gentiles, 

And  make  the  desolate  cities  to  be  inhabited. 

Fear  not,  for  thou  shalt  not  be  ashamed: 

Neither  be  thou  confounded,  for  thou  shalt  not  be  put 
to  shame; 

For  thou  shalt  forget  the  shame  of  thy  youth, 


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223 


And  shalt  not  remember  the  reproach  of  thy  widowhood 
any  more. 

For  thy  Maker  is  thy  husband, 

The  Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name; 

And  thy  Redeemer,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 

“God  of  the  whole  earth,”  shall  he  be  called. 

For  the  Lord  hath  called  thee  as  a  woman  forsaken  and 
grieved  in  spirit, 

As  a  wife  of  youth,  when  thou  wast  rejected. 

For  a  small  moment  have  I  forsaken  thee, 

But  with  great  mercies  will  I  gather  thee: 

In  a  little  wrath  I  hid  my  face  from  thee  for  a  mo¬ 
ment, 

But  with  great  mercies  will  I  have  mercy  on  thee. 

For  the  mountains  shall  depart, 

And  the  hills  be  removed, 

But  my  kindness  shall  not  depart  from  thee, 

Neither  shall  the  covenant  of  my  peace  be  removed. 

O  thou  afflicted,  tossed  with  tempest,  and  not  comforted : 
Behold,  I  will  set  thy  stones  with  fair  colors, 

And  lay  thy  foundation  with  sapphires; 

I  will  make  thy  windows  of  agates, 

And  thy  gates  of  carbuncles, 

And  all  thy  borders  of  pleasant  stones. 

All  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord, 

And  great  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children. 

SONG  FOR  THE  WATCHMEN  OF  JERUSALEM 

After  the  Return 

How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him 
That  bringeth  good  tidings,  that  publisheth  peace, 


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That  bringeth  good  tidings  of  good,  that  publish- 
eth  salvation, 

That  saith  to  Zion,  “Thy  God  reigneth!” 

Thy  watchmen  shall  lift  up  the  voice, 

With  the  voice  together  shall  they  sing; 

For  they  shall  see,  eye  to  eye, 

How  the  Lord  shall  bring  again  Zion. 

Break  forth  into  joy,  sing  together, 

Ye  waste  places  of  Jerusalem: 

For  the  Lord  hath  comforted  his  people, 

He  hath  redeemed  Jerusalem. 

The  Lord  hath  made  bare  his  holy  arm 
In  the  eyes  of  all  the  nations, 

And  all  the  ends  of  the  earth 
Shall  see  the  salvation  of  our  God. 

A  SONG  OF  GOD’S  OWN  PRESENCE  IN 

THE  RETURN 

I  will  mention  the  lovingkindnesses  of  the  Lord, 
And  the  praises  of  the  Lord, 

According  to  all  that  the  Lord  hath  bestowed  on 
us, 

And  the  great  goodness  toward  the  house  of  Israel, 
Which  he  hath  bestowed  on  them  according  to  his 
mercies, 

According  to  the  multitude  of  his  lovingkindnesses. 
For  he  said,  “  Surely  they  are  my  people, 

Children  that  will  not  lie”; 

So  he  was  their  Savior: 

In  all  their  affliction  he  was  afflicted, 

And  the  angel  of  his  presence  saved  them : 


“HO!  EVERY  ONE  THAT  THIRSTETH,  COME  YE  TO  THE  WATERS” 


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225 


In  his  love  and  in  his  pity  he  redeemed  them, 

And  he  took  them  up,  and  carried  them,  all  the 
days  of  old. 

THE  RETURN  TO  JEHOVAH 

Ho !  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters, 

And  he  that  hath  no  money;  come  ye,  buy,  and  eat; 
Yea,  come,  buy  wine  and  milk 
Without  money  and  without  price. 

Wherefore  do  ye  spend  money  for  that  which  is  not 
bread, 

And  your  labor  for  that  which  satisfieth  not? 

Hearken  diligently  to  me,  and  eat  ye  that  which  is 
good, 

And  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness. 

Incline  your  ear,  and  come  unto  me; 

Hear,  and  your  soul  shall  live: 

And  I  will  make  an  everlasting  covenant  with  you, 
Even  the  sure  mercies  of  David. 

Behold,  I  have  given  him  for  a  witness  to  the  people, 

A  leader  and  commander  to  the  people. 

Behold,  thou  shalt  call  a  nation  that  thou  knowest  not. 
And  nations  that  have  not  known  thee  shall  run  to  thee. 
Because  of  the  Lord  thy  God, 

And  for  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 

For  he  hath  glorified  thee. 

Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found; 

Call  ye  upon  him,  while  he  is  near: 

Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way, 

And  the  unrighteous  man  his  thoughts; 

And  let  him  return  to  the  Lord, 

And  he  will  have  mercy  upon  him; 


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And  to  our  God, 

For  lie  will  abundantly  pardon. 

For  my  thoughts  are  not  your  thoughts, 

Neither  are  your  ways  my  ways,  saith  the  Lord. 

But  as  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth, 

So  are  my  ways  higher  than  your  ways, 

And  my  thoughts  than  your  thoughts. 

For  as  the  rain  comet h  down,  and  the  snow  from 
heaven , 

And  returneth  not  thither,  but  watereth  the  earth, 

And  make th  it  bring  forth  and  bud, 

That  it  may  give  seed  to  the  sower, 

And  bread  to  the  eater: 

So  shall  my  word  be  that  goetli  forth  out  of  my 
mouth ; 

It  shall  not  return  to  me  void, 

But  it  shall  accomplish  that  which  I  please, 

And  it  shall  prosper  in  the  thing  whereto  I  sent  it. 

For  ye  shall  go  out  with  joy, 

And  be  led  forth  with  peace; 

The  mountains  and  the  hills  shall  break  out  before 
you  into  singing, 

And  all  the  trees  of  the  field  shall  clap  their  hands. 
Instead  of  the  thorn  shall  come  up  the  fir  tree, 

And  instead  of  the  brier  shall  come  up  the  myrtle  tree; 
And  it  shall  be  to  the  Lord  for  a  name  [a  memorial], 

For  an  everlasting  sign  which  shall  not  be  cut  off. 

A  NEW  HEART  AND  A  NEW  SPIRIT 

I 

Although  I  have  cast  them  far  off  among  the 
nations, 

And  although  I  have  scattered  them  among  the 
countries, 


THE  GLORIOUS  FUTURE 


227 


Yet  will  I  be  to  them  for  a  little  while  as  a  sanc¬ 
tuary 

In  the  countries  where  they  shall  come. 

I  will  even  gather  you  from  the  peoples, 

And  assemble  you  out  of  the  countries  where  ye 
have  been  scattered, 

And  I  will  give  you  the  land  of  Israel. 

They  shall  come  thither; 

And  I  will  give  them  one  heart, 

I  will  put  a  new  spirit  within  them ; 

I  will  take  the  stony  heart  out  of  their  flesh, 

And  I  will  give  them  a  heart  of  flesh: 

That  they  may  walk  in  my  statutes, 

And  keep  mine  ordinances  and  do  them: 

They  shall  be  my  people, 

And  I  will  be  their  God. 

II 

Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you,  and  ye 
shall  be  clean; 

From  all  your  filthiness  and  from  all  your  idols 
will  I  cleanse  you. 

A  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you, 

And  a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within  you ; 

I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  out  of  your  flesh, 
And  I  will  give  you  a  heart  of  flesh. 

I  will  put  my  spirit  within  you, 

And  cause  you  to  walk  in  my  statutes, 

And  ye  shall  keep  my  judgments,  and  do  them. 

Ye  shall  dwell  in  the  land  that  I  gave  your  fathers ; 
And  ye  shall  be  my  people, 

And  I  will  be  your  God. 


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228 


A  VIEW  OF  JERUSALEM 
From  an  etching  by  E.  M.  Lilien 


THE  BETTER  COUNTRY 


THE  LAND  OF  BEULAH 

AND  thou  shalt  be  called  by  a  new  name 
l  Which  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  shall  name: 

Thou  shalt  also  be  a  crown  of  beauty  in  the  hand  of 
the  Lord, 

And  a  royal  diadem  in  the  hand  of  thy  God. 

No  more  shalt  thou  be  termed  “Forsaken”; 

Neither  shall  thy  land  any  more  be  termed  “Desolate” : 
But  thou  shalt  be  called  Hephzi-bah  [My  Delight  Is 
in  Her], 

And  thy  land  Beulah  [Married]33; 

For  the  Lord  delighteth  in  thee, 

And  thy  land  shall  be  married. 

For  as  a  young  man  marrieth  a  maiden, 

So  shall  thy  sons  [or,  Thy  Builder]  marry  thee: 

And  as  the  bridegroom  rejoiceth  over  the  bride, 

So  shall  thy  God  rejoice  over  thee. 

I  have  set  watchmen  upon  thy  walls,  O  Jerusalem; 
Who  shall  never  hold  their  peace,  day  nor  night: 

Ye  that  make  mention  of  the  Lord,  keep  not  silence, 
And  give  him  no  rest  until  he  establish, 

And  until  he  make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the  earth. 
And  they  shall  call  them  “The  holy  people,” 

“The  redeemed  of  the  Lord”: 

And  thou  shalt  be  called  “Sought  out,” 

“A  city  not  forsaken.” 


A  SONG  OF  REBUILDING  AND  REPLANTING 

Yea,  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love; 
Therefore  with  lovingkindness  have  I  drawn  thee. 


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Again  I  will  build  thee, 

And  thou  shalt  be  built,  O  virgin  of  Israel: 

Thou  shalt  again  be  adorned  with  thy  tabrets, 

And  shalt  go  forth  in  the  dances  of  them  that  make 
merry. 

Thou  shalt  yet  plant  vines  upon  the  mountains  of 
Samaria : 

The  planters  shall  plant,  and  shall  eat  them  as 
common  things. 

Behold,  I  will  bring  them  from  the  north  country, 
And  gather  them  from  the  coasts  of  the  earth, 

And  with  them  the  blind  and  the  lame: 

A  great  company  shall  return  thither. 

They  shall  come  with  weeping, 

And  with  supplications  will  I  lead  them: 

I  will  cause  them  to  walk  by  the  rivers  of  waters 
In  a  straight  way,  wherein  they  shall  not  stumble; 
For  I  am  a  father  to  Israel, 

And  Ephraim  is  my  first-born.34 

PROSPERITY  TO  FARM  AND  VINEYARD 

Butter  and  Honey 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 

That  a  man  shall  keep  alive  a  young  cow  and  two 
sheep ; 

And  because  of  the  abundance  of  milk  that  they 
shall  give  he  shall  eat  butter; 

For  butter  and  honey  shall  every  one  eat  that  is 
left  in  the  land. 

Joy  in  the  Gardens 

The  Lord  shall  comfort  Zion, 

He  will  comfort  all  her  waste  places; 


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231 


©Rau  Art  Studios 


TIIE  PLAIN  OF  SHARON 

Nothing  can  be  more  ravishingly  brilliant  than  the  Plain  of  Sharon  in  spring.  The 
vegetation  is  lush,  a  vivid  green,  and  scattered  everywhere,  as  on  the  pattern  of  a  carpet,  are 
the  most  gorgeous  flowers  of  all  colors,  red,  blue,  and  scarlet.  There  are  a  dozen  shades  of 
anemones;  the  red  predominates,  however,  the  deep  red  of  the  “Rose  of  Sharon.” 


And  lie  will  make  her  wilderness  like  Eden, 
And  her  desert  like  the  garden  of  the  Lord: 
Joy  and  gladness  shall  be  found  therein, 
Thanks  giving  and  the  voice  of  melody. 


The  Inheritance  of  the  Mountains 

As  the  new  wine  is  found  in  the  cluster, 

And  one  saith,  “Destroy  it  not,  for  a  blessing  is  in  it"; 


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So  will  I  do  for  my  servants’  sake, 

That  I  may  not  destroy  them  all. 

I  will  bring  forth  a  nation  out  of  Jacob, 

And  out  of  Judah  an  inheritor  of  my  mountains; 

My  chosen  shall  inherit  it, 

And  my  servants  shall  dwell  there. 

Sharon  shall  be  a  fold  of  flocks, 

And  the  valley  of  Achor  a  place  for  the  herds  to 
lie  down  in, 

For  my  people  that  have  sought  me. 

Abundance  of  Harvests 

Behold,  the  days  come  that  the  plowman  shall 
overtake  the  reaper, 

And  the  treader  of  grapes  him  that  soweth  seed. 

The  mountains  shall  drop  sweet  wine, 

And  all  the  hills  shall  melt. 

I  will  bring  again  the  captivity  of  my  people  of 
Israel, 

And  they  shall  build  the  waste  cities,  and  inhabit  them; 

They  shall  plant  vineyards,  and  drink  the  wine 
thereof ; 

They  shall  also  make  gardens,  and  eat  the  fruit 
of  them. 

I  will  plant  them  upon  their  land, 

And  they  shall  no  more  be  pulled  up  out  of  their 
land,  which  I  have  given  them. 

THE  PILLAR  OF  CLOUD  AND  OF  FIRE 

In  that  day  shall  the  branch  of  the  Lord  be  beau¬ 
tiful  and  glorious, 

And  the  fruit  of  the  earth  shall  be  excellent  and 
comely 

For  them  that  are  escaped  of  Israel. 


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o  ii  • ; 


And  the  Lord  will  create  upon  every  dwelling 
place  of  mount  Zion, 

And  upon  her  assemblies, 

A  cloud  and  smoke  by  day, 

And  the  shining  of  a  flaming  fire  by  night: 

For  upon  all,  the  glory  shall  be  a  defense; 

And  there  shall  be  a  pavilion  for  a  shadow  in  the 
daytime  from  the  heat, 

And  for  a  covert  from  storm  and  from  rain. 

GOD  THE  CROWN  OF  HIS  PEOPLE 

In  that  day  shall  the  Lord  of  hosts  be  for  a  crown  of 
glory. 

And  for  a  diadem  of  beauty  to  the  residue  of  his  people, 
And  for  a  spirit  of  justice  to  him  that  sitteth  in  judgment, 
And  for  strength  to  them  that  turn  back  the  battle  at 
the  gate. 


NO  MORE  CRYING 

I 

Thou  shalt  weep  no  more; 

He  will  be  very  gracious  to  thee  at  the  voice  of 
thy  cry; 

When  he  shall  hear  it,  he  will  answer  thee. 

And  though  the  Lord  hath  given  you 

The  bread  of  adversity  and  the  water  of  affliction, 

Yet  shall  not  thy  teacher  be  removed  into  a  cor¬ 
ner  any  more, 

But  thine  eyes  shall  see  thy  teacher. 

And  thine  ears  shall  hear  a  word  behind  thee, 
saying, 

“This  is  the  way;  walk  ye  in  it!” 


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When  ye  turn  to  the  right  hand  and  when  ye  turn 
to  the  left. 

In  that  day  shall  thy  cattle  feed  in  large  pastures. 

The  oxen  likewise  and  the  young  asses  that  till 
the  ground 

Shall  eat  clean  provender, 

Which  hath  been  winnowed  with  the  shovel  and 
with  the  fan. 

And  there  shall  be  upon  every  high  mountain  and 
upon  every  high  hill, 

Rivers  and  streams  of  water, 

In  the  day  of  the  great  slaughter, 

When  the  towers  fall. 

Moreover  the  light  of  the  moon  shall  be  as  the 
light  of  the  sun, 

And  the  light  of  the  sun  shall  be  sevenfold, 

On  the  day  that  the  Lord  bindeth  up  the  wound 
of  his  people, 

And  healeth  the  hurt  of  their  wound. 

II 

A  voice  was  heard  in  Ramah,  lamentation,  and 
bitter  weeping, 

Rachel,  weeping  for  her  children: 

She  refuseth  to  be  comforted  for  her  children, 

Because  they  are  not. 

Refrain  thy  voice  from  weeping, 

And  thine  eyes  from  tears: 

For  thy  work  shall  be  rewarded, 

And  they  shall  come  again  from  the  land  of  the  enemy. 
And  there  is  hope  in  thy  latter  end, 

That  thy  children  shall  come  again  to  their  own  border. 


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JOY  INSTEAD  OF  MOURNING 

He  that  scattered  Israel  will  gather  him, 

And  keep  him,  as  a  shepherd  doth  his  flock. 

For  the  Lord  hath  redeemed  Jacob, 

And  ransomed  him  from  the  hand  of  him  that  was 
stronger  than  he. 

Therefore  they  shall  come  and  sing  in  the  height  of  Zion, 
And  shall  flow  together  to  the  goodness  of  the  Lord, 

For  wheat,  and  for  wine,  and  for  oil, 

And  for  the  young  of  the  flock  and  of  the  herd. 

Their  soul  shall  be  as  a  watered  garden; 

And  they  shall  not  sorrow  any  more  at  all. 

Then  shall  the  maiden  rejoice  in  the  dance, 

Both  young  men  and  old  together: 

For  I  will  turn  their  mourning  into  joy, 

And  will  comfort  them,  and  make  them  rejoice  from 
their  sorrow. 

THE  CITY  IMPREGNABLE 

Behold,  I  have  created  the  smith  that  bloweth  the 
coals  in  the  fire, 

And  that  bringeth  forth  an  instrument  for  his  work, 

And  I  have  created  the  waster  to  destroy. 

But  no  weapon  that  is  formed  against  thee  shall 
prosper, 

And  every  tongue  that  shall  rise  against  thee  in 
judgment  thou  shaft  condemn. 

This  is  the  heritage  of  the  servants  of  the  Lord, 

And  their  righteousness  is  of  me. 

THE  NEW  HEAVEN  AND  EARTH 

For,  behold,  I  create  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth; 

And  the  former  shall  not  be  remembered, 

Nor  come  into  mind. 


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But  be  ye  glad  and  rejoice  forever  in  that  which  I 
create : 

For  behold,  I  create  Jerusalem  a  rejoicing, 

And  her  people  a  joy. 

I  will  rejoice  in  Jerusalem, 

And  joy  in  my  people: 

And  the  voice  of  weeping  shall  be  no  more  heard  in  her, 
Nor  the  voice  of  crying. 

There  shall  no  longer  be  there  an  infant  of  days, 

Nor  an  old  man  that  hath  not  filled  out  his  days: 

For  the  child  will  die  when  a  hundred  years  old, 

But  the  sinner,  when  a  hundred  years  old,  shall  be 
accursed. 

And  they  shall  build  houses,  and  inhabit  them; 

And  they  shall  plant  vineyards,  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them. 
They  shall  not  build,  and  another  inhabit; 

They  shall  not  plant,  and  another  eat: 

For  like  the  days  of  a  tree  are  the  days  of  my  people, 

And  my  chosen  shall  long  enjoy  the  work  of  their 
hands. 

They  shall  not  labor  in  vain, 

Nor  bring  forth  for  trouble; 

For  they  are  the  family  of  the  blessed  of  the  Lord, 

And  their  offspring  with  them. 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  before  they  call,  I 
will  answer; 

And  while  they  are  yet  speaking,  I  will  hear. 

AS  THE  STARS  FOR  EVER  AND  EVER 


At  that  time  shall  Michael  stand  up, 

The  great  prince  who  standeth  for  the  children  of  thy 
people; 


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237 


MICHAEL 

Fro  m  a  pain  tiny  by  Raphael 

The  archangel  Michael  stands  for  the  protecting  power  of  God,  for  the  divine  militancy 
that  will  not  allow  his  Holy  Ones  to  suffer. 

“And  at  that  time  shall  Michael  stand  up,  the  great  Prince  who  standeth  for  the 
children  of  thy  people;  and  at  that  time  thy  people  shall  be  delivered.” 


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And  there  shall  be  a  time  of  trouble, 

Such  as  never  was  since  there  was  a  nation  even  to  that 
same  time; 

At  that  time  thy  people  shall  be  delivered, 

Every  one  that  shall  be  found  written  in  the  book. 

Many  of  them  that  sleep  in  the  dust  of  the  earth  shall 
awake, 

Some  to  everlasting  life,  and  some  to  shame  and  ever¬ 
lasting  contempt. 

They  that  are  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the 
firmament, 

And  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars 
for  ever  and  ever. 


GOD’S  PURPOSES  FOR  THE 
WHOLE  WORLD 


PEACE  AMONG  THE  NATIONS 


AND  in  the  last  days  it  shall  come  to  pass 
k.  That  the  mountain  of  the  Lord’s  house 
Shall  be  established  in  the  top 
Of  the  mountains, 

And  it  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills. 

People  shall  flow  to  it, 

And  many  nations  shall  come,  and  say: 


“Come,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord, 
And  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob; 

He  will  teach  us  of  his  ways, 

And  we  will  walk  in  his  paths; 

For  the  law  shall  go  forth  out  of  Zion, 

And  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem.”35 

Then  he  shall  judge  among  many  nations, 

And  rebuke  strong  nations  afar  off : 

They  shall  beat  their  swords  into  plowshares, 

And  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks; 

Nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation, 

Neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more. 

But  they  shall  sit,  every  man  under  his  vine 
And  under  his  fig  tree, 

And  none  shall  make  them  afraid. 

ISRAEL  AS  LIBERATOR 
Thus  saith  the  Lord, 

The  Redeemer  of  Israel,  and  his  Holy  One, 


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To  him  whom  man  despise th, 

To  him  whom  the  nation  abhorreth, 

To  a  servant  of  rulers: 

“Kings  shall  see  and  arise, 

Princes  also  shall  worship, 

Because  of  the  Lord  that  is  faithful, 

And  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  who  hath  chosen  thee.” 

Thus  saith  the  Lord: 

“In  an  acceptable  time  have  I  heard  thee, 

And  in  a  day  of  salvation  have  I  helped  thee; 

And  I  will  preserve  thee, 

And  give  thee  for  a  covenant  of  the  people, 

To  establish  the  earth, 

To  cause  to  inherit  the  waste  heritages; 

That  thou  mayest  say  to  the  prisoners,  ‘Go  forth’; 

To  them  that  are  in  darkness,  ‘Show  yourselves.’” 

GOD’S  PEOPLE,  THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  NATIONS 

Listen,  O  isles,  to  me, 

And  hearken,  ye  people  from  afar! 

The  Lord  hath  called  me  from  birth. 

From  my  mother’s  lap  hath  he  made  mention  of 
my  name. 

He  hath  made  my  mouth  like  a  sharp  sword; 

In  the  shadow  of  his  hand  hath  he  hid  me. 

He  made  me  a  polished  arrow; 

In  his  quiver  hath  he  hid  me. 

He  said  to  me,  “Thou  art  my  servant, 

O  Israel,  in  whom  I  will  be  glorified.” 

But  I  said,  “I  have  labored  in  vain; 

I  have  spent  my  strength  for  nought,  and  in  vain ; 

Yet  surely  my  judgment  is  with  the  Lord, 

And  my  word  is  with  my  God.  ” 


GOD ’S  PURPOSES  FOR  THE  WHOLE  WORLD 


241 


And  now  saith  the  Lord, 

Who  formed  me  from  birth  to  be  his  servant, 

To  bring  Jacob  again  to  him, 

And  that  Israel  should  be  gathered  unto  him: 

“It  is  too  light  a  thing  that  thou  shouldst  be  my 
servant, 

To  raise  up  the  tribes  of  Jacob, 

And  to  restore  the  dispersed  of  Israel; 

I  will  also  give  thee  for  a  light  to  the  Gentiles, 

That  thou  mayest  be  my  salvation  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth.  ” 36 

REDEMPTION  OF  THE  ANCIENT  ENEMIES 

OF  GOD’S  PEOPLE 

In  that  day  shall  five  cities  in  the  land  of  Egypt  speak 
the  language  of  Canaan  and  swear  to  the  Lord  of  hosts. 

The  Lord  shall  be  known  to  Egypt,  and  the  Egyptians 
shall  know  the  Lord  in  that  day,  and  shall  worship  with 
sacrifice  and  oblation;  yea,  they  shall  vow  a  vow  to  the 
Lord  and  perform  it. 

In  that  day  there  shall  be  a  highway  out  of  Egypt  to 
Assyria.  And  the  Assyrian  shall  come  into  Egypt,  and  the 
Egyptian  into  Assyria,  and  the  Egyptians  shall  worship  with 
the  Assyrians. 

In  that  day  shall  Israel  be  the  third  part  with  Egypt  and 
Assyria,  even  a  blessing  in  the  midst  of  the  earth,  whom  the 
Lord  shall  bless,  saying, 

“Blessed  be  Egypt  my  people, 

And  Assyria  the  work  of  my  hands, 

And  Israel  mine  inheritance.” 

THE  HOME-COMING  OF  THE  NATIONS 

It  shall  yet  come  to  pass  that  there  shall  come  peoples, 

And  the  inhabitants  of  many  cities; 


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And  the  inhabitants  of  one  city  shall  go  to  another,  saying, 
“Let  us  go  speedily  to  pray  before  the  Lord, 

And  to  seek  the  Lord  of  hosts; 

I  will  go  also.” 

Yea,  many  peoples  and  strong  nations  shall  come 
To  seek  the  Lord  of  hosts  in  Jerusalem, 

And  to  pray  before  the  Lord. 

In  those  days  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  ten  men  shall 
take  hold 

(Out  of  all  languages  of  the  nations), 

They  shall  take  hold  of  the  skirt  of  him  who  is  a  Jew, 

t y  y 

saying, 

We  will  go  with  you, 

For  we  have  heard  that  God  is  with  you.” 

THE  ALIEN  SHALL  BE  AS  THE  HOME-BORN 

Also  the  sons  of  the  stranger  that  join  themselves 
to  the  Lord 

To  serve  him,  and  to  love  the  name  of  the  Lord, 

To  be  his  servants, 

Every  one  that  keepeth  the  sabbath  from  profan¬ 
ing  it, 

And  taketh  hold  of  my  covenant; 

Even  them  will  I  bring  to  my  holy  mountain, 

And  make  them  joyful  in  my  house  of  prayer; 

Their  burnt  offerings  and  their  sacrifices  shall  be 
accepted  upon  mine  altar: 

E or  my  house  shall  be  called  a  house  of  prayer  for  all 
people. 

The  Lord  God  who  gathereth  the  outcasts  of  Israel 
saith, 

“Yet  will  I  gather  others  to  him, 

Besides  his  own  that  are  gathered.” 


GOD’S  PURPOSES  FOR  THE  WHOLE  WORLD 


243 


WORLD-WIDE  RIGHTEOUSNESS  AND  PRAISE 

I 

I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  the  Lord, 

My  soul  shall  be  joyful  in  my  God; 

For  he  hath  clothed  me  with  the  garments  of 
salvation, 

He  hath  covered  me  with  the  robe  of  righteousness, 
As  a  bridegroom  decketh  himself  with  ornaments, 
And  as  a  bride  adorneth  herself  with  her  jewels: 

For  as  the  earth  bringeth  forth  her  bud, 

And  as  the  garden  causeth  the  things  that  are 
sown  in  it  to  spring  forth, 

So  the  Lord  God  will  cause  righteousness 
And  praise  to  spring  forth  before  all  the  nations. 

II 

From  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth  have  we 
heard  songs, 

Even  glory  to  the  righteous. 

III 

Look  to  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth ; 

For  I  am  the  Lord,  and  there  is  none  else: 

I  have  sworn  by  myself, 

The  word  is  gone  out  of  my  mouth  in  righteous¬ 
ness,  and  shall  not  return: 

That  to  me  every  knee  shall  bow, 

And  every  tongue  shall  swear. 


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THE  WISDOM  OF  OLD  AGE 

From  a  'painting  by  Alfred  Aghace 


THE  WORDS  OF  THE  WISE 


WISDOM  AND  ITS  TEACHINGS 


THE  INSTRUCTION  OF  WISDOM 

O  know  wisdom  and  instruction: 


A  To  perceive  the  words  of  understanding: 

To  receive  the  instruction  of  wisdom,  justice,  and 
judgment,  and  equity: 

To  give  prudence  to  the  simple: 

To  the  young  man  knowledge  and  discretion: 

That  the  wise  may  hear  and  increase  in  learning: 
And  that  the  man  of  understanding  may  attain  unto 
wise  counsels: 

To  understand  a  proverb  and  the  interpretation: 
The  words  of  the  wise  and  their  dark  sayings. 


THE  CALL  OF  WISDOM 


Doth  not  wisdom  cry, 

And  understanding  put  forth  her  voice? 

She  standeth  on  the  top  of  high  places  by  the  way, 


In  the  places  of  the  paths. 


She  crieth  at  the  gates  at  the  entrance  of  the  city, 
At  the  coming  in  of  the  doors: 

“To  you,  O  men,  I  call; 

And  my  voice  is  to  the  sons  of  men. 

O  ye  simple,  understand  wisdom: 

And  ye  fools,  be  of  an  understanding  heart. 

Hear,  for  I  will  speak  of  excellent  things; 

And  the  opening  of  my  lips  shall  be  right  things. 
For  my  mouth  shall  speak  truth: 

Wickedness  is  an  abomination  to  my  lips. 

All  the  words  of  my  mouth  are  in  righteousness; 
There  is  nothing  froward  and  perverse  in  them. 


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They  are  all  plain  to  him  that  understandeth, 

And  right  to  them  that  find  knowledge. 

Receive  my  instruction,  and  not  silver; 

And  knowledge  rather  than  choice  gold. 

For  wisdom  is  better  than  rubies; 

And  all  things  that  may  be  desired  are  not  to  be 
compared  to  her. 

“I,  wisdom,  dwell  with  prudence, 

And  find  out  knowledge  and  discretion. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  to  hate  evil. 

Pride,  and  arrogancy,  and  the  evil  way,  and  the 
fro  ward  mouth,  do  I  hate. 

Counsel  is  mine,  and  sound  wisdom; 

I  am  understanding;  I  have  strength. 

“By  me  kings  reign, 

And  princes  decree  justice. 

By  me  princes  rule, 

And  nobles,  even  all  the  judges  of  the  earth. 

I  love  them  that  love  me; 

And  those  that  seek  me  early  shall  find  me 
Riches  and  honor  are  with  me; 

Yea,  durable  riches  and  righteousness. 

My  fruit  is  better  than  gold,  yea,  than  fine  gold; 
And  my  revenue  than  choice  silver. 

I  lead  in  the  way  of  righteousness, 

In  the  midst  of  the  paths  of  judgment: 

That  I  may  cause  those  that  love  me  to  inherit  sub¬ 
stance, 

And  that  I  may  fill  their  treasuries. 

“The  Lord  formed  me  first  of  his  creation, 

Before  his  works  of  old. 

I  was  set  up  from  everlasting, 


WISDOM  AND  ITS  TEACHINGS 


249 


From  the  beginning  of  the  earth. 

When  as  yet  there  were  no  depths,  I  was  brought 
forth ; 

When  there  were  no  fountains  abounding  with  water. 
Before  the  mountains  were  settled, 

Before  the  hills  was  I  brought  forth; 

While  as  yet  he  had  not  made  the  earth,  nor  the 
fields, 

Nor  the  beginning  of  the  dust  of  the  world. 

When  he  prepared  the  heavens,  I  was  there: 

When  he  drew  a  circle  on  the  face  of  the  deep,37 
When  he  established  the  sky  above, 

When  he  strengthened  the  fountains  of  the  deep, 
When  he  gave  to  the  sea  his  decree, 

That  the  waters  should  not  pass  his  commandment, 
When  he  appointed  the  foundations  of  the  earth; 
Then  was  I  by  him,  as  one  brought  up  with  him; 
And  was  daily  his  delight, 

Rejoicing  always  before  him, 

Rejoicing  in  his  habitable  earth; 

And  my  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men.” 

IN  PRAISE  OF  WISDOM 

Bow  down  thine  ear,  and  hear  the  words  of  the  wise,38 
And  apply  thy  heart  to  my  knowledge. 

For  it  is  a  pleasant  thing  if  thou  keep  me  within  thee; 
If  they  be  established  together  upon  thy  lips. 

That  thy  trust  may  be  in  the  Lord, 

I  have  made  them  known  to  thee  this  day,  even  to 
thee. 

Have  not  I  written  to  thee  excellent  things 
Of  counsels  and  knowledge, 

To  make  thee  know  the  certainty  of  the  words  of 
truth ; 


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That  thou  mayest  answer  words  of  truth  to  them 
that  send  thee? 


Wisdom  is  the  principal  thing; 

Therefore  get  wisdom : 

Yea,  with  all  thy  getting, 

Get  understanding. 

Exalt  her,  and  she  will  promote  thee; 

She  will  bring  thee  to  honor,  when  thou  dost  embrace 
her. 

She  will  give  to  thy  head  a  chaplet  of  grace: 

A  crown  of  beauty  will  she  deliver  to  thee. 


Through  wisdom  is  a  house  builded; 

And  by  understanding  it  is  established: 

And  by  knowledge  shall  the  chambers  be  filled 
With  all  precious  and  pleasant  riches. 


My  son,  eat  thou  honey,  because  it  is  good; 

And  the  honeycomb,  which  is  sweet  to  thy  taste. 

So  shall  the  knowledge  of  wisdom  be  to  thy  soul: 

When  thou  hast  found  it,  then  there  shall  be  a  reward, 

And  thy  expectation  shall  not  be  cut  off. 

AYisdom  strengtheneth  the  wise  more  than  ten  mighty 
men  which  are  in  the  city. 


My  son,  attend  to  my  wisdom; 

And  bow  thine  ear  to  my  understanding: 
That  thou  mayest  regard  discretion, 

And  that  thy  lips  may  keep  knowledge. 


WISDOM  AND  ITS  TEACHINGS 


251 


Wisdom  is  a  defense,  and  money  is  a  defense:  but  the 
excellency  of  knowledge  is,  that  wisdom  giveth  life  to  them 
that  have  it. 


The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom: 

And  the  knowledge  of  the  Holy  One  is  understanding. 


How  much  better  is  it  to  get  wisdom  than  gold! 

And  to  get  understanding  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than 
silver. 


The  law  of  the  wise  is  a  fountain  of  life, 

That  one  may  depart  from  the  snares  of  death. 


Wisdom  is  before  the  face  of  him  that  hath  under¬ 
standing; 

But  the  eyes  of  a  fool  are  in  the  ends  of  the  earth. 


When  the  scorner  is  punished,  the  simple  is  made 
wise : 

And  when  the  wise  is  instructed,  he  receiveth 
knowledge. 


The  man  that  wandereth  out  of  the  way  of  under¬ 
standing 

Shall  remain  in  the  congregation  of  the  dead. 


There  is  no  wisdom  nor  understanding  nor  counsel 
against  the  Lord. 


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The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  knowledge; 
But  fools  despise  wisdom  and  instruction. 


Wisdom  is  good  with  an  inheritance; 

And  by  it  there  is  profit  to  them  that  see  the  sun. 


Understanding  is  a  wellspring  of  life  to  him  that 
hath  it; 

But  the  instruction  of  fools  is  folly. 

By  wise  counsel  thou  shalt  make  thy  war: 

And  in  multitude  of  counselors  there  is  safety. 


The  eyes  of  the  Lord  preserve  knowledge: 

And  he  overthroweth  the  words  of  the  transgressor. 


Buy  the  truth,  and  sell  it  not: 

Also  wisdom,  and  instruction,  and  understanding. 

WISDOM’S  WARNING 

Wisdom  crieth  aloud  in  the  street; 

She  uttereth  her  voice  in  the  broad  places; 

She  standeth  amid  the  crossways; 

At  the  entrance  of  the  city  gateways  she  crieth  aloud : 

“How  long,  ye  simple  ones,  will  ye  love  simplicity? 
And  scorners  delight  them  in  scorning, 

And  fools  hate  knowledge? 

Turn  you  at  my  reproof: 


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253 


Behold,  I  will  pour  out  my  spirit  unto  you; 

I  will  make  known  my  words  unto  you. 

“ Because  I  have  called,  and  ye  have  refused; 

I  have  stretched  out  my  hand, 

And  no  man  regarded; 

But  ye  have  set  at  nought  all  my  counsel. 

And  would  none  of  my  reproof: 

I  also  will  laugh  in  the  day  of  your  calamity; 

I  will  mock  when  your  fear  cometh; 

When  your  fear  cometh  as  a  storm, 

And  your  destruction  cometh  on  as  a  whirlwind; 
When  distress  and  anguish  come  upon  you. 

Then  shall  they  call  upon  me, 

But  I  will  not  answer: 

“They  shall  seek  me  diligently, 

But  they  shall  not  find  me: 

Because  they  hated  knowledge, 

And  did  not  choose  the  fear  of  the  Lord : 

They  would  none  of  my  counsel; 

They  despised  all  my  reproof. 

Therefore  shall  they  eat  of  the  fruit  of  their  own  way, 
And  be  filled  with  their  own  devices. 

For  the  backsliding  of  the  simple  shall  slay  them, 

And  the  prosperity  of  fools  shall  destroy  them. 

But  whoso  hearkeneth  unto  me  shall  dwell  securely, 
And  shall  be  quiet  without  fear  of  evil.” 


A  WISE  MAN’S  EXPERIMENT  WITH  LIFE 

This  philosopher,  under  the  guise  of  one  who  experiments  with  pleas¬ 
ure,  action,  and  wisdom,  finds  none  of  them  profitable  in  itself,  though 
wisdom  is  certainly  better  than  folly.  It  is  best,  therefore,  he  argues, 
not  to  seek  satisfaction  in  future  hopes,  but  to  be  happy  in  the  pres¬ 
ent  and  common  joys  of  life.  Of  course,  his  viewpoint  was  imperfect. 


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Other  Hebrew  thinkers  came  to  believe  that  the  longings  of  man  are  too 
great  for  this  one  world,  and  saw  in  immortality  the  assurance  that  life 
is  not  vanity. 

The  Decision 

I  Koheleth  [a  sage]  was  king 
Over  Israel  in  Jerusalem. 

And  I  set  my  heart  to  seek  and  search  out  wisdom 
Concerning  all  that  is  done  under  heaven. 

I  have  taken  note  of  all  the  works 
That  are  done  under  the  sun; 

And,  behold,  all  is  vanity 

And  vexation  of  spirit  [or,  a  striving  after  wind]. 

That  which  is  crooked  cannot  be  made  straight  ; 

And  that  which  is  wanting  cannot  be  made  good. 

I  had  more  wisdom  than  all  before  me  in  Jerusalem; 

Yea,  my  mind  had  great  experience  of  wisdom  and 
learning. 

But  when  I  gave  my  heart  to  learn  wisdom, 

I  learned  it  was  a  striving  after  wind. 

For  in  much  wisdom  is  much  worry; 

And  he  that  increaseth  knowledge  increaseth  sorrow. 

The  Experiment  with  Pleasure 

I  said  in  my  heart, 

“Come!  I  will  test  thee  with  mirth; 

Therefore  enjoy  pleasure.” 

And,  behold,  this  also  is  vanity. 

I  said  of  laughter,  44 It  is  mad”; 

And  of  pleasure,  44  What  is  it  worth?” 

The  Experiment  with  Action 

I  made  me  great  works; 

I  built  me  mansions; 


WISDOM  AND  ITS  TEACHINGS 


2.5.5 


I  planted  me  vineyards; 

I  made  me  gardens  and  parks, 

And  planted  all  sorts  of  fruit  trees; 

I  made  me  pools  of  water, 

To  water  the  nursery  of  young  trees. 

I  got  me  menservants  and  maidens, 

And  slaves  were  born  in  my  house; 

I  gathered  me  also  silver  and  gold, 

Fit  treasures  of  kings  and  of  provinces, 

I  got  me  men -singers  and  women-singers, 

And  the  delights  of  the  sons  of  men. 

So  I  was  great, 

And  was  more  wealthy  than  all  that  were  before  me  in 
Jerusalem. 

Whatsoever  my  eyes  desired,  I  kept  not  from  them; 

I  withheld  not  my  heart  from  any  pleasure; 

And  this  was  my  portion  from  all  my  labor. 

Then  I  looked  on  all  my  hands  had  wrought, 

And  on  the  labor  that  I  had  labored  to  do, 

And  behold,  all  was  vanity, 

And  there  was  no  profit  under  the  sun. 

So  I  hated  all  my  labors 

Wherein  I  had  labored  under  the  sun; 

Because  I  must  leave  it  unto  the  man  that  shall  be  after 
me, 

And  who  knoweth  whether  he  will  be  a  wise  man  or  a  fool? 
Yet  will  he  rule  over  all  my  labors, 

Wherein  I  have  labored  and  showed  wisdom  under  the 
sun. 

So  T  began  to  despair  of  the  labor, 

W1  lerein  I  had  labored  under  the  sun. 


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For  if  there  be  a  man  who  hath  labored 
In  wisdom,  and  knowledge,  and  skill; 

Yet  to  a  man  who  hath  not  labored  therein  he  must 
leave  it. 

This  also  is  vanity,  and  a  great  evil. 

What  then  hath  a  man  from  all  his  labor, 

And  of  the  striving  of  his  heart, 

Wherein  he  hath  labored  under  the  sun? 

For  his  days  are  but  sorrows, 

And  his  occupation  grief, 

And  his  heart  findeth  no  rest  in  the  night. 

This  also  is  vanity. 

There  is  nothing  better  for  a  man  than  that  he  should 
eat  and  drink 

And  enjoy  pleasure  for  his  labor. 

This  also  I  saw, 

That  it  was  from  the  hand  of  God. 

The  Experiments  with  Wisdom 

I  turned  myself  to  behold  wisdom, 

And  madness,  and  folly. 

Then  I  saw  that  wisdom  excelleth  folly, 

As  far  as  light  excelleth  darkness; 

For  the  wise  man  hath  eyes  in  his  head, 

But  the  fool  walketh  in  darkness. 

But  I  myself  perceived, 

That  one  fate  happened  to  them  all. 

Then  I  said  in  my  heart, 

“Since  as  it  happeneth  to  the  fool, 

So  it  happeneth  even  to  me, 

What  gain  hath  my  wisdom  brought  me?” 

Then  I  said  in  my  heart,  that  this  also  is  vanity. 


WISDOM  AND  ITS  TEACHINGS 


2.57 


For  there  is  no  remembrance  of  the  wise  man 
More  than  of  the  fool  forever: 

Therefore  I  hated  life; 

Because  grievous  to  me  was  the  work 
That  is  wrought  under  the  sun: 

For  all  is  vanity  and  a  striving  after  wind. 

The  Conclusion 

So  go  thy  way, 

Eat  thy  bread  with  joy, 

And  drink  thy  wine  with  a  merry  heart. 

Let  thy  garments  be  always  white, 

And  let  thy  head  lack  no  ointment. 

Live  joyfully  with  the  wife  whom  thou  lovest 
All  the  days  of  the  life  of  thy  vanity, 

Which  he  hath  given  thee  under  the  sun : 

For  this  is  thy  portion  in  life, 

And  in  thy  labor  which  thou  makest  under  the  sun. 

Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do, 

Do  it  with  thy  might; 

For  there  is  no  work,  nor  planning, 

Nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom,  in  the  grave, 

Whither  thou  goest. 

SECURITY  THE  GIFT  OF  WISDOM 

Happy  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom, 

And  the  man  that  getteth  understanding; 

For  her  gain  is  better  than  the  gain  of  silver, 

And  her  increase  than  fine  gold. 

She  is  more  precious  than  rubies; 

And  all  the  things  thou  canst  desire  cannot  compare 
with  her. 


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Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand; 

And  in  her  left  hand  riches  and  honor. 

Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness, 

And  all  her  paths  are  peace. 

A  tree  of  life  is  she  to  them  that  lay  hold  on  her, 
And  happy  is  every  one  that  retaineth  her. 


The  Lord  of  wisdom  hath  founded  the  earth: 

By  understanding  hath  he  established  the  heavens. 
By  his  knowledge  the  deeps  were  broken  open, 
And  the  clouds  distil  the  dew. 


My  son,  let  them  not  depart  from  thine  eyes; 

Keep  sound  wisdom  and  discretion: 

So  shall  they  be  life  to  thy  soul, 

And  grace  to  thy  neck. 

Then  shalt  thou  walk  in  thy  way  safely. 

And  thy  foot  shall  not  stumble. 

When  thou  liest  down,  thou  shalt  not  be  afraid; 

Yes,  thou  shalt  lie  down,  and  sweet  shall  be  thy  sleep. 
Be  not  afraid  of  sudden  fear, 

Neither  of  the  desolation  of  the  wicked  when  it  cometh; 
For  the  Lord  shall  be  thy  confidence; 

And  he  shall  keep  thy  foot  from  being  taken. 

WHERE  SHALL  WISDOM  BE  FOUND 

Surely  there  is  a  mine  for  silver, 

And  a  place  for  gold  where  they  refine  it. 

Iron  is  taken  out  of  the  earth, 

And  copper  is  molten  out  of  the  stone. 

Man  setteth  an  end  to  darkness. 

And  searcheth  out,  to  the  furthest  bound, 


WISDOM  AND  ITS  TEACHINGS 


259 


The  stones  of  obscurity  and  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
He  breaketh  forth  a  shaft  away  underground; 

They  are  forgotten  of  the  foot; 

They  hang  afar  from  men,  they  swing  to  and  fro. 
The  earth,  out  of  which  cometh  bread, 

Underneath  it  is  turned  up  as  it  were  by  fire. 

The  stones  thereof  are  the  place  of  sapphires, 

And  it  hath  dust  of  gold. 

That  path  no  bird  of  prey  knoweth, 

Neither  hath  the  falcon’s  eye  seen  it: 

The  proud  beasts  have  not  trodden  it, 

Nor  hath  the  fierce  lion  passed  thereby. 

He  putteth  forth  his  hand  upon  the  rock; 

He  overturneth  the  mountains  by  the  roots. 

He  cutteth  out  channels  among  the  rocks; 

And  his  eye  seeth  every  precious  thing. 

He  bindeth  the  floods  from  overflowing; 

And  the  thing  that  is  hid  bringeth  he  forth  to  light. 

But  where  shall  wisdom  be  found? 

And  where  is  the  place  of  understanding? 

Man  knoweth  not  the  price  thereof; 

Neither  is  it  found  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

The  deep  saith,  “It  is  not  in  me”; 

And  the  sea  saith,  “It  is  not  with  me.” 

It  cannot  be  gotten  for  gold, 

Neither  shall  silver  be  weighed  for  the  price  thereof. 
It  cannot  be  valued  with  the  gold  of  Ophir, 

With  the  precious  onyx,  or  the  sapphire. 

Gold  and  glass  cannot  equal  it, 

Neither  shall  it  be  exchanged  for  jewels  of  fine  gold. 
No  mention  shall  be  made  of  coral  or  of  crystal: 
Yea,  the  price  of  wisdom  is  above  rubies. 

The  topaz  of  Ethiopia  shall  not  equal  it, 

Neither  shall  it  be  valued  with  pure  gold. 


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Whence  then  cometh  wisdom? 

And  where  is  the  place  of  understanding? 

Seeing  it  is  hid  from  the  eyes  of  all  living, 

And  kept  close  from  the  birds  of  the  heavens. 
Destruction  and  Death  say, 

“We  have  heard  a  rumor  thereof  with  our  ears.” 

God  understandeth  the  way  thereof, 

And  he  knoweth  the  place  thereof. 

For  he  looketh  to  the  ends  of  the  earth, 

And  seeth  under  the  whole  heaven; 

To  make  a  weight  for  the  wind: 

Yea,  he  meteth  out  the  waters  by  measure. 

When  he  made  a  decree  for  the  rain, 

And  a  way  for  the  lightning  of  the  thunder; 

Then  did  he  see  it,  and  declare  it; 

He  established  it,  yea,  and  searched  it  out. 

And  unto  man  he  said, 

Behold,  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  that  is  wisdom; 
And  to  depart  from  evil  is  understanding.” 


LIFE  AND  ITS  COMPENSATIONS 


THE  INNER  SPIRIT  OF  MAN 


KEEP  thy  heart  with  all  diligence; 
For  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life. 


The  refining  pot  is  for  silver, 
And  the  furnace  for  gold: 

But  the  Lord  trieth  the  hearts. 


The  heart  knoweth  its  own  bitterness: 

And  a  stranger  doth  not  intermeddle  with  its  joy. 


The  foolishness  of  man  perverteth  his  way; 
And  his  heart  fretteth  against  the  Lord. 


The  heart  of  him  that  hath  understanding  seeketh  knowl¬ 
edge; 

But  the  mouth  of  fools  feedeth  on  folly. 


Man’s  goings  are  of  the  Lord; 

How  can  a  man  then  understand  his  own  way? 


Who  can  say,  k‘I  have  made  my  heart  clean, 
I  am  pure  from  my  sin?” 


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The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things, 
And  desperately  wicked. 

Who  can  know  it? 


Every  way  of  a  man  is  right  in  his  own  eyes: 
But  the  Lord  pondereth  the  hearts. 


All  the  ways  of  a  man  are  clean  in  his  own  eyes: 
But  the  Lord  weigheth  the  spirits. 


The  spirit  of  man  is  the  candle  of  the  Lord, 
Searching  all  the  inward  parts. 


The  spirit  of  a  man  will  sustain  his  infirmity; 
But  a  wounded  spirit  who  can  bear? 


Hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick: 

But  when  desire  cometh,  it  is  a  tree  of  life. 


To  the  wise  the  way  of  life  goeth  upward, 
That  he  may  depart  from  the  grave  beneath. 


The  refining  pot  is  for  silver, 

And  the  furnace  for  gold; 

And  a  man  is  tried  by  his  praise. 

THE  RIGHTEOUS  AND  THE  WICKED 

The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  in  every  place, 
Beholding  the  evil  and  the  good. 


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263 


When  wisdom  entereth  into  thy  heart, 

And  knowledge  is  pleasant  to  thy  soul; 
Discretion  shall  preserve  thee, 

Understanding  shall  keep  thee: 

To  deliver  thee  from  the  way  of  the  evil  man, 
From  man  that  speaketh  froward  things; 

Who  leave  the  paths  of  uprightness, 

To  walk  in  the  ways  of  darkness; 

Who  rejoice  to  do  evil, 

And  delight  in  the  frowardness  of  the  wicked: 
Who  are  crooked  in  their  ways, 

And  froward  in  their  paths: 

That  thou  mayest  walk  in  the  way  of  good  men, 
And  keep  the  paths  of  the  righteous. 


HOPE  DEFERRED  MAKETH  THE  HEART  SICK” 
From  a  painting  by  Arthur  Faldi 


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For  the  upright  shall  dwell  in  the  land, 

And  the  perfect  shall  remain  in  it. 

But  the  wicked  shall  be  cut  off  from  the  earth, 
And  the  transgressors  shall  be  rooted  out  of  it. 


A  good  man  leaveth  an  inheritance  to  his  children’s  chil¬ 
dren  : 

And  the  wealth  of  the  sinner  is  laid  up  for  the  just. 


Behold,  the  righteous  shall  be  recompensed  in  the  earth: 
How  much  more  the  wicked  and  the  sinner ! 


When  the  wicked  rise,  men  hide  themselves ; 
But  when  they  perish,  the  righteous  increase. 


The  righteous  man  considereth  the  house  of  the  wicked, 
How  the  wicked  are  overthrown  to  their  ruin. 


When  it  goeth  well  with  the  righteous,  the  city  rejoicetli: 
And  when  the  wicked  perish,  there  is  shouting. 


A  righteous  man  regardeth  the  life  of  his  beast; 
But  the  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked  are  cruel. 


Even  a  child  is  known  by  his  doings, 

Whether  his  work  be  pure,  and  whether  it  be  right. 


. 

■ 


■ 


* 

, 


■  " 

■ 


©The  Brown-Robertson  Co.  The  Tate  Gallery,  London 


HOPE 

From  a  painting  by  George  F.  W atts 


HOPE 

From  a  painting  by  George  F.  Watts 

At  first  glance  one  might  think  that  “Despair"  is  a  more  appropriate 
title,  for  certainly  none  of  the  conventional  accompaniments  of  Hope  are 
to  be  seen  on  this  canvas.  The  world  on  which  Hope  sits  is  utterly  desolate, 
swept  clean  by  some  cosmic  destruction.  There  is  nothing  left  to  delight 
the  eye  or  to  call  forth  expectation  of  happy  days  to  come.  The  earth 
swings  through  a  sky  that  is  starless.  The  heavens  above,  usually  so  thickly 
strewn  with  scintillating  emblems  of  hope,  are  tonight  utterly  blank.  The 
symbolic  figure  of  Hope  sits  in  a  dejected  attitude  upon  the  ruins  of  all 
that  was  once  dear,  and  hugs  to  her  bosom  a  lyre  whose  strings,  all  but  one, 
some  cruel  fate  has  blasted.  Surely  there  are  no  more  songs  in  the  soul  of 
this  harp.  But  the  genius  who  painted  this  combination  of  symbols  has  by 
this  very  device  brought  out  for  us  the  essential  quality  of  Hope,  the  quality 
that  refuses  to  be  dismayed  even  in  the  presence  of  catastrophe.  Hope 
has  bound  her  eyes  that  she  may  not  see  the  destruction  about  her,  has 
bound  one  ear  that  she  may  shut  out  the  distractions  of  a  distracted 
world,  and  now  she  is  concentrating  with  all  her  powers  of  sense  and 
imagination  upon  the  faint  vibration  of  the  one  remaining  string  of  her 
lyre.  One  string  at  least  is  left;  and  though  the  music  be  faint,  it  is  yet 
music.  Thus,  to  her  heart  of  hope  the  most  intangible  of  all  the  voices  of 
nature  becomes  the  sure  promise  of  blessing. 

The  painter  of  this  picture  is  by  temperament  a  preacher.  In  the  Tate 
Gallery,  London,  is  a  whole  room  devoted  to  the  allegories  of  Watts. 
There  one  has  a  chance  to  realize  that,  under  the  strange  and  sometimes 
obscure  figures  that  the  artist  has  put  upon  the  canvas,  is  an  earnest  pur¬ 
pose  to  teach  some  great  lesson  about  life.  There,  for  example,  is  Mammon, 
a  huge,  unlovely  creature  that  sacrifices  the  life  of  the  rising  generation 
to  his  lust  for  gold.  There  are  those  other  glowing  canvases  in  which 
Love  is  represented  triumphant  over  Time  and  Death.  There  are  pictured 
life’s  illusions  that  man  pursues  with  such  fervor,  only  to  find  that  "the 
paths  of  glory  lead  but  to  the  grave.”  There  is  that  solemn  judgment  on 
the  values  of  life  in  the  somber  painting  entitled,  "Thus  Passes  the  Glory 
of  the  World,”  in  which  at  the  foot  of  a  bier  are  the  symbols  of  all  the  arts 
and  sciences,  the  knowledge,  the  skill,  the  power  that  once  brought  fame 
but  are  now  worthless  in  the  presence  of  all-conquering  death.  The  whole 
series  indicates  in  the  most  striking  way  how  the  beauty  and  the  power  of 
art  can  be  made  to  serve  moral  and  spiritual  ends  and  may  perform  the 
function  of  the  ancient  preachers  of  righteousness.  Watts  himself  says, 
“All  my  pictures  in  the  Tate  Gallery  are  symbolical  and  for  all  time. 
My  intention  has  not  been  so  much  to  paint  pictures  that  will  charm  the 
eye  as  to  suggest  great  thoughts  that  will  appeal  to  the  imagination  and 
tlie  heart,  and  kindle  all  that  is  best  and  noblest  in  humanity.” 


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The  Lord  is  far  from  the  wicked; 

But  he  heareth  the  prayer  of  the  righteous. 


The  way  of  the  wicked  is  an  abomination  to  the  Lord; 
But  he  loveth  him  that  followeth  after  righteousness. 


Thorns  and  snares  are  in  the  way  of  the  fro  ward: 
He  that  doth  keep  his  soul  shall  be  far  from  them. 


Evil  men  understand  not  judgment; 

But  they  that  seek  the  Lord  understand  all  things. 


The  wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth; 
But  the  righteous  are  bold  as  a  lion. 


Oh  let  the  wickedness  of  the  wicked  come  to  an  end,  but 
establish  the  just; 

For  the  righteous  God  trieth  the  minds  and  hearts. 

My  defense  is  of  God, 

Who  saveth  the  upright  in  heart. 

God  is  a  righteous  judge, 

Yea,  a  God  that  hath  indignation  every  day. 

REWARDS  OF  THE  RIGHTEOUS 

The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory, 

If  it  be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness.39 


When  a  man’s  ways  please  the  Lord, 

He  maketh  even  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  him. 


LIFE  AND  ITS  COMPENSATIONS 


267 


The  path  of  the  just  is  as  the  dawning  light, 

That  shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day. 


For  God  giveth  to  a  man  that  is  good  in  his  sight,  wisdom, 
and  knowledge,  and  joy;  but  to  the  sinner  he  giveth  travail, 
to  gather  and  to  heap  up,  that  he  may  give  to  him  that  is 
good  before  God. 


The  fear  of  the  Lord  prolongeth  days; 

But  the  years  of  the  wicked  shall  be  shortened. 


The  Lord  will  not  suffer  the  soul  of  the  righteous  to  famish ; 
But  he  casteth  away  the  substance  of  the  wicked. 


In  the  way  of  righteousness  is  life; 

And  in  the  pathway  thereof  there  is  no  death. 

The  fruit  of  the  righteous  is  a  tree  of  life; 

And  he  that  winneth  souls  is  wise. 

The  labor  of  the  righteous  tendeth  to  life: 

The  fruit  of  the  wicked  to  sin. 

The  fear  of  the  wicked,  it  shall  come  upon  him: 
But  the  desire  of  the  righteous  shall  be  granted. 

The  righteous  is  delivered  out  of  trouble; 

And  the  wicked  cometh  in  his  stead. 


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Treasures  of  wickedness  profit  nothing; 
But  righteousness  delivereth  from  death. 


The  wicked  worketh  a  deceitful  work: 

But  to  him  that  soweth  righteousness  shall  be  a  sure 
reward. 


As  righteousness  tendeth  to  life, 

So  he  that  pursueth  evil  pursueth  it  to  his  own  death. 


He  that  diligently  seeketh  good  procureth  favor: 
But  he  that  seeketh  mischief,  it  shall  come  to  him. 


A  good  man  obtaineth  favor  of  the  Lord; 

But  a  man  of  wicked  devices  will  he  condemn. 


A  man  shall  not  be  established  by  wickedness; 

But  the  root  of  the  righteous  shall  not  be  moved. 


The  wicked  are  overthrown  and  are  not; 
But  the  house  of  the  righteous  shall  stand. 


Evil  pursueth  sinners; 

But  to  the  righteous  good  shall  be  repaid. 


He  that  folio weth  after  righteousness  and  mercy 
Findeth  life,  righteousness,  and  honor. 


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269 


The  light  of  the  righteous  rejoiceth; 

But  the  lamp  of  the  wicked  shall  be  put  out. 


In  the  house  of  the  righteous  is  much  treasure; 
But  in  the  revenues  of  the  wicked  is  trouble. 


The  hope  of  the  righteous  shall  be  gladness; 

But  the  expectation  of  the  wicked  shall  perish. 


As  the  whirlwind  passeth,  so  is  the  wicked  no  more; 
But  the  righteous  is  an  everlasting  foundation. 

The  righteous  shall  never  be  moved; 

But  the  wicked  shall  not  inhabit  the  earth. 


The  righteousness  of  the  perfect  shall  direct  his  way; 
But  the  wicked  shall  fall  by  his  own  wickedness. 

The  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower: 

The  righteous  runneth  into  it  and  is  safe. 

The  wicked  is  driven  away  in  his  wickedness; 

But  the  righteous  hath  hope  in  his  death. 


Do  they  not  err  that  devise  evil? 

But  mercy  and  truth  shall  be  to  them  that  devise  good. 


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Though  a  sinner  do  evil  a  hundred  times,  and  his  days 
be  prolonged,  yet  surely  I  know  that  it  shall  be  well  with 
them  that  fear  God. 


The  blessing  of  the  Lord,  it  maketh  rich, 
And  he  addeth  no  sorrow  with  it. 


THE  LOT  OF  THE  TRANSGRESSOR 

There  is  a  way  that  seemeth  right  to  a  man ; 

But  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways  of  death. 


Be  not  thou  envious  against  evil  men. 
Neither  desire  to  be  with  them: 

For  their  heart  studieth  oppression, 
And  their  lips  talk  of  mischief. 


Fret  not  thyself  because  of  evil  men, 

Neither  be  thou  envious  at  the  wicked; 

For  there  shall  be  no  reward  to  the  evil  man; 
The  candle  of  the  wicked  shall  be  put  out. 


His  own  iniquities  shall  take  the  wicked  man  himself, 
And  he  shall  be  held  with  the  cords  of  his  sins. 

He  shall  die  without  instruction; 

And  in  the  greatness  of  his  folly  he  shall  go  astray. 


The  soul  of  the  wicked  desireth  evil: 

His  neighbor  findeth  no  favor  in  his  eyes. 


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271 


Good  understanding  giveth  favor; 
But  the  way  of  transgressors  is  hard. 


He  that  soweth  iniquity  shall  reap  vanity: 
And  the  rod  of  his  anger  shall  fail. 


The  wicked  shall  be  a  ransom  for  the  righteous, 
And  the  transgressor  for  the  upright. 


When  the  wicked  cometh,  then  cometh  also  contempt; 
And  with  ignominy,  reproach. 


Whoso  rewardeth  evil  for  good, 

Evil  shall  not  depart  from  his  house. 


The  evil  bow  before  the  good: 

And  the  wicked  at  the  gates  of  the  righteous. 


The  Lord  hath  made  all  things  for  himself: 
Yea,  even  the  wicked  for  the  day  of  evil. 


Be  sure  your  sin  will  find  you  out. 


Woe  unto  them  that  call  evil  good,  and  good  evil; 
That  put  darkness  for  light,  and  light  for  darkness; 
That  put  bitter  for  sweet,  and  sweet  for  bitter! 


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TRUST  IN  THE  LORD 
Thus  saith  the  Lord: 

“Cursed  be  the  man  that  trusteth  in  man, 

And  maketh  flesh  his  arm; 

Whose  heart  departeth  from  the  Lord. 

For  he  shall  be  like  the  heath  in  the  desert, 

And  shall  not  see  when  good  cometh, 

But  shall  inhabit  the  parched  places  in  the  wilderness, 
In  a  salt  land  and  not  inhabited. 


“Blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  the  Lord, 
Whose  hope  the  Lord  is. 

For  he  shall  be  as  a  tree  planted  by  the  waters, 
That  spreadeth  out  her  roots  by  the  river, 

And  shall  not  see  when  heat  cometh, 

But  her  leaf  shall  be  green; 

And  shall  not  be  anxious  in  the  year  of  drought, 
Neither  shall  cease  from  yielding  fruit.” 


A  man’s  heart  deviseth  his  way: 

But  the  Lord  directeth  his  steps. 

Say  not  thou,  “I  will  recompense  evil”; 
But  wait  on  the  Lord,  and  he  will  save  thee. 


The  horse  is  prepared  against  the  day  of  battle; 
But  safety  is  of  the  Lord. 


Commit  thy  works  to  the  Lord, 

And  thy  thoughts  shall  be  established. 


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273 


The  ways  of  man  are  before  the  eyes  of  the  Lord, 
And  he  pondereth  all  his  goings. 


The  fear  of  man  bringeth  a  snare: 

But  whoso  putteth  his  trust  in  the  Lord  shall  be  safe. 


Every  word  of  God  is  pure: 
He  is  a  shield  to  them  that 
put  their  trust  in  him. 


In  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is 
strong  confidence : 

And  his  children  shall  have  a 
place  of  refuge. 


FAITH 

From  a  painting  by  Sir  Edward  Burne-Jones 

Faith  is  personified  as  a  beautiful  woman 
in  pensive  mood.  In  her  right  hand  she  holds 
a  lamp,  the  flame  of  which  is  burning  brightly. 
This  is  a  symbol  of  the  illumination  that  faith 
casts  upon  the  pathway  of  life.  Beneath  her 
left  hand  springs  out  a  branch  of  olive,  symbol 
of  peace,  and  about  it  twines  a  serpent  sugges¬ 
tive  of  wisdom — “Be  ye  wise  as  serpents.” 
The  artist  means  to  say  that  peace  and  wisdom 
are  the  accompaniments  of  faith.  At  her  feet 
lies  the  dragon  of  error,  consumed  in  the  flame 
of  truth.  This  is  the  consummation  toward 
which  faith  works.  Above  on  the  capitals  of 
the  pilasters  sit  two  cherubs  playing  with  strings 
on  which  are  rows  of  beads.  The  children  per¬ 
haps  stand  for  the  childlike  attitude  of  mind 
and  heart  which  in  a  sense  is  the  attitude  of 
faith;  and  the  beads  suggest  those  great  religions 
of  mankind  that  have  found  in  prayer-beads  an 
aid  to  faith  as  well  as  to  prayer. 


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GIFTS 

“O  World-God,  give  me  Wealth!”  the  Egyptian  cried. 

His  prayer  was  granted.  High  as  heaven,  behold 
Palace  and  Pyramid;  the  brimming  tide 
Of  lavish  Nile  washed  all  his  land  with  gold; 

Armies  of  slaves  toiled  ant-wise  at  his  feet; 

World-circling  traffic  roared  through  mart  and  street. 

His  priests  were  gods,  his  spice-balmed  kings  enshrined 
Set  death  at  naught  in  rock-ribbed  charnels  deep. 

Seek  Pharaoh’s  race  today,  and  ye  shall  find 
Rust  and  the  moth,  silence  and  dusty  sleep. 

“0  World-God,  give  me  Beauty!”  cried  the  Greek. 

His  prayer  was  granted.  All  the  earth  became 
Plastic  and  vocal  to  his  sense;  each  peak. 

Each  grove,  each  stream,  quick  with  Promethean  flame, 
Peopled  the  world  with  imaged  grace  and  light. 

The  lyre  was  his,  and  his  the  breathing  might 
Of  the  immortal  marble;  his  the  play 
Of  diamond-pointed  thought  and  golden  tongue. 

Go  seek  the  sunshine  race;  ye  find  today 
A  broken  column  and  a  lute  unstrung. 

“O  World-God,  give  me  Power!”  the  Roman  cried. 

His  prayer  was  granted.  The  vast  world  was  chained 
A  captive  to  the  chariot  of  his  pride. 

The  blood  of  myriad  provinces  was  drained 
To  feed  that  fierce,  insatiable  red  heart. 

Invulnerably  bulwarked  every  part 

With  serried  legions  and  with  close-meshed  code; 

Within,  the  burrowing  worm  had  gnawed  its  home. 

A  roofless  ruin  stands  where  once  abode 
The  imperial  race  of  everlasting  Rome. 

”0  Godhead,  give  me  Truth!”  the  Hebrew  cried. 

His  prayer  was  granted;  he  became  the  slave 
Of  the  Idea,  a  pilgrim  far  and  wide, 

Cursed,  hated,  spurned,  and  scourged,  with  none  to  save. 
The  Pharaohs  knew  him,  and  when  Greece  beheld, 

His  wisdom  wore  the  hoary  crown  of  Eld. 

Beauty  he  hath  forsworn,  and  wealth,  and  power. 

Seek  him  today,  and  find  in  every  land. 

No  fire  consumes  him,  neither  floods  devour; 

Immortal  through  the  lamp  within  his  hand. 

— Emma  Lazarus 


By  permission  of  The  Houghton  Mifflin  Company 


JOB 


Persons  Represented 


Job ,  a  prosperous  man  in  the  Land  of  Uz 

The  Wife  of  Job 

The  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Job 

Four  Messengers 


The  LORD 
Satan 

The  “ Sons  of  God " 

Elihu,  the  Buzite ,  a  young  man 
Eliphaz ,  the  Temanite 
Bildad ,  the  Shuhite 
Zophar,  the  Naamathite  J 


[•  Friends  of  Job 


Places 

The  Council  Chamber  of  Heaven 
The  House  of  Job 

An  Ash  Heap  Outside  the  City  >  in  the  Land  of  Uz 
Wall  '  J 

Time 

The  Patriarchal  Age 


THE  PROLOGUE 

A  Pious  and  Prosperous  Man  of  the  East 

THERE  was  a  man  in  the  land  of  Liz,40  whose  name  was 
Job;  and  that  man  was  perfect  and  upright,  and  one 
that  feared  God,  and  shunned  evil.  And  there  were 
born  to  him  seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 

His  substance  also  was  seven  thousand  sheep,  and  three 
thousand  camels,  and  five  hundred  yoke  of  oxen,  and  five 
hundred  she-asses,  and  a  very  great  household;  so  that  this 
man  was  the  greatest  of  all  the  men  of  the  East. 

And  his  sons  went  and  feasted  in  their  houses,  every  one 
on  his  day;  and  they  sent  and  called  for  their  three  sisters 
to  eat  and  drink  with  them. 


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“THUS  DID  JOB  CONTINUALLY” 

From  a  drawing  bg  Blake 


And  whenever  the  days  of  their  feasting  were  come  about. 
Job  sent  and  purified  them,  and  rose  up  early  in  the  morn¬ 
ing,  and  offered  burnt  offerings  according  to  the  number  of 
them  all;  for  Job  said,  “It  may  be  that  my  sons  have  sinned, 
and  renounced  God  in  their  hearts.”  Thus  did  Job  con¬ 
tinually. 


Satan  Is  Permitted  to  Put  Job  to  the  Test 

(Now  there  was  a  day  when  the  sons  of  God41  came  to 
present  themselves  before  the  Lord,  and  Satan42  came  also 
among  them.) 


THE  LORD 


Whence  comest  thou? 


JOB 


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SATAN 

From  going  to  and  fro  in  the  earth,  and  from  walking  up 
and  down  in  it. 

THE  LORD 

Hast  thou  considered  my  servant  Job,  that  there  is  none 
like  him  in  the  earth,  a  perfect  and  an  upright  man,  one  that 
feareth  God,  and  shunneth  evil? 

SATAN 

Doth  Job  fear  God  for  nought?  Hast  not  thou  made  a 
hedge  about  him,  and  about  his  house,  and  about  all  that 
he  hath  on  every  side?  Thou  hast  blessed  the  work  of  his 
hands,  and  his  substance  is  increased  in  the  land.  But  put 
forth  thy  hand  now,  and  touch  all  that  he  hath,  and  he 
will  renounce  thee  to  thy  face. 

THE  LORD 

Behold,  all  that  he  hath  is  in  thy  power;  only  upon  him¬ 
self  put  not  forth  thy  hand. 

(So  Satan  went  forth  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.) 

The  First  Test  of  Job’s  Faith 

(And  there  was  a  day  when  his  sons  and  his  daughters 
were  eating  and  drinking  wine  in  their  eldest  brother’s  house: 
and  there  came  a  messenger  to  Job.) 

FIRST  MESSENGER 

The  oxen  were  plowing, 

And  the  asses  feeding  beside  them: 

And  the  Sabeans  fell  upon  them,  and  took  them  away: 

Yea,  they  have  slain  the  servants  with  the  edge  of  the 
sword : 

And  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 

(While  he  was  yet  speaking,  there  came  also  another.) 


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SECOND  MESSENGER 

The  fire  of  God  is  fallen  from  heaven, 

And  hath  burned  up  the  sheep,  and  the  servants,  and 
consumed  them: 

And  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 

(While  he  was  yet  speaking,  there  came  also  another.) 

THIRD  MESSENGER 

The  Chaldeans  made  three  bands, 

And  fell  upon  the  camels,  and  have  carried  them  away; 
Yea,  and  slain  the  servants  with  the  edge  of  the  sword: 
And  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 

(While  he  was  yet  speaking,  there  came  also  another.) 


“AND  I  ONLY  AM  ESCAPED  ALONE  TO  TELL  THEE” 

From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


JOB 


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FOURTH  MESSENGER 

Thy  sons  and  thy  daughters  were  eating  and  drinking  wine 
in  their  eldest  brother’s  house; 

And,  behold,  there  came  a  great  wind  from  the  wilderness. 
And  smote  the  four  corners  of  the  house, 

And  it  fell  upon  the  young  men,  and  they  are  dead: 

And  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 

(Then  Job  rose,  and  rent  his  mantle,  and  shaved  his  head, 
and  fell  down  upon  the  ground,  and  worshiped.) 

JOB 

Naked  came  I  into  the  world, 

And  naked  must  I  return  out  of  it. 

The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away; 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

(In  all  this  Job  sinned  not,  nor  charged  God  foolishly.) 

The  Second  Test  of  Job’s  Faith 

(Again  there  was  a  day  when  the  sons  of  God  came  to 
present  themselves  before  the  Lord,  and  Satan  came  also 
among  them  to  present  himself  before  the  Lord.) 

THE  LORD 

From  whence  comest  thou? 

SATAN 

From  going  to  and  fro  in  the  earth,  and  from  walking 
up  and  down  in  it. 

THE  LORD 

Hast  thou  considered  my  servant  Job,  that  there  is  none 
like  him  in  the  earth,  a  perfect  and  an  upright  man,  one  that 


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feareth  God,  and  shunneth  evil?  and  still  he  holdeth  fast  his 
integrity,  although  thou  movedst  me  against  him,  to  destroy 
him  without  cause. 


SATAN 

Skin  for  skin,  yea,  all  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for 
his  life.  But  put  forth  thy  hand  now,  and  touch  his  bone 
and  his  flesh,  and  he  will  renounce  thee  to  thy  face. 

THE  LORD 

Behold,  he  is  in  thy  hand;  but  save  his  life. 

(So  Satan  went  forth  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
and  smote  Job  with  sore  boils  from  the  sole  of  his  foot  unto 
his  crown.  And  he  took  him  a  potsherd  to  scrape  himself 
withal;  and  he  sat  down  among  the  ashes.) 

job’s  wife 

Dost  thou  still  retain  thine  integrity?  renounce  God, 
and  die. 


JOB 

Thou  speakest  as  one  of  the  foolish  women  speaketh. 
What?  shall  we  receive  good  at  the  hand  of  God,  and  shall 
we  not  receive  evil?  (In  all  this  did  not  Job  sin  with  his  lips.) 

The  Coming  of  Job’s  Comforters 

Now  when  Job’s  three  friends  heard  of  all  this  evil  that 
was  come  upon  him,  they  came  every  one  from  his  own 
place:  Eliphaz  the  Temanite,  and  Bildad  the  Shuhite,  and 
Zophar  the  Naamathite:  for  they  had  made  an  appoint¬ 
ment  together  to  come  to  mourn  with  him,  and  to  comfort 
him.  And  when  they  lifted  up  their  eyes  afar  off,  and  knew 
him  not,  they  lifted  up  their  voice,  and  wept;  and  they  rent 


JOB 


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“AND  WHEN  THEY  KNEW  HIM  NOT,  THEY  WEPT” 

From  a  draining  by  Blake 

every  one  his  mantle,  and  sprinkled  dust  upon  their  heads 
toward  heaven.  So  they  sat  down  with  him  upon  the  ground 
seven  days  and  seven  nights,  and  none  spoke  a  word  to  him: 
for  they  saw  that  his  grief  was  very  great. 

THE  CURSE 

JOB 

His  sufferings  are  so  intense  that  he  curses  the  day  of  his  birth, 
laments  that  he  was  ever  born,  and  longs  for  death. 

Job  Curses  the  Day  He  Was  Born 

Let  the  day  perish  wherein  I  was  born, 

And  the  night  in  which  it  was  said,  “There 
is  a  man-child  conceived.” 


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“LET  THE  DAY  PERISH  WHEREIN  I  WAS  BORN” 

From  a  drawing  by  Blake 

Let  that  day  be  darkness; 

Let  not  God  regard  it  from  above, 

Neither  let  the  light  shine  upon  it. 

Let  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death  stain  it; 
Let  a  cloud  dwell  upon  it; 

Let  the  blackness  of  the  day  terrify  it. 

As  for  that  night,  let  thick  darkness  seize 
upon  it; 

Let  it  not  be  joined  unto  the  days  of  the  year; 
Let  it  not  come  into  the  number  of  the 
months. 

Lo,  let  that  night  be  solitary; 

Let  no  joyful  voice  come  therein. 


JOB 


285 


Let  them  curse  it  that  curse  the  day, 

Who  are  ready  to  arouse  leviathan. 

Let  the  stars  of  the  twilight  thereof  be 
dark; 

Let  it  look  for  light,  but  have  none; 

Neither  let  it  see  the  dawning  of  the  day. 
Because  it  shut  not  up  the  doors  of  birth, 
Nor  hid  sorrow  from  mine  eyes. 

Why  died  I  not  from  birth? 

Why  did  I  not  give  up  the  ghost  when  I 
came  into  the  world? 

Why  on  the  knees  was  I  welcomed? 

The  Shadowy  Life  Beyond  the  Grave 

For  now  should  I  have  lain  still  and  been 
quiet ; 

I  should  have  slept;  then  had  I  been  at  rest, 
With  kings  and  counselors  of  the  earth, 

Who  built  everlasting  sepulchers  for  them¬ 
selves  ; 

Or  with  princes  that  had  gold, 

Who  filled  their  houses  with  silver. 

There  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling, 

And  there  the  weary  are  at  rest: 

There  the  prisoners  rest  together; 

They  hear  not  the  voice  of  the  oppressor. 
The  small  and  great  are  there; 

And  the  servant  is  free  from  his  master. 

Job  Cries  out  in  Misery 

Wherefore  is  light  given  to  him  that  is  in 
misery, 

And  life  unto  the  bitter  in  soul; 


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Who  long  for  death,  but  it  cometh  not; 

And  dig  for  it  more  than  for  hid  treasures; 

Who  rejoice  exceedingly, 

And  are  glad,  when  they  can  find  the  grave? 

Why  is  light  given  to  a  man  whose  way  is  hid, 

And  whom  God  hath  hedged  in? 

For  my  sighing  cometh  before  I  eat, 

And  my  groans  are  poured  out  like  the 
waters. 

For  the  thing  which  I  greatly  feared  is 
come  upon  me, 

And  that  which  I  was  afraid  of  is  come 
unto  me. 

I  am  not  in  safety,  neither  have  I  rest, 

Neither  am  I  quiet;  but  trouble  cometh. 

THE  FIRST  CYCLE  OF  ARGUMENT 

ELIPHAZ 

A  man  of  age  and  wisdom,  a  mystic,  a  courteous,  quiet  thinker,  the 
calmest  and  most  considerate  of  Job’s  friends,  is  Eliphaz.  He  cannot 
stand  silently  by  when  one  who  has  formerly  comforted  many  others 
in  affliction  is,  by  his  own  pain,  plunged  into  despair.  He  reminds  Job 
that  only  the  guilty  have  cause  to  feel  so  desolate.  A  remarkable  vision 
has  taught  him  that  no  mere  human  being  has  any  justification  for  such 
complaint  as  Job  makes  against  God.  Were  he  in  Job’s  place,  such 
suffering  would  drive  him  to  God  for  correction  and  discipline,  that  it 
might  thus  result  in  blessing. 

Job’s  Irreverence  Provokes  Eliphaz  to  Reply 

If  we  venture  to  commune  with  thee,  wilt 
thou  be  grieved? 

But  who  can  withhold  himself  from  speak¬ 
ing? 

Behold,  thou  hast  instructed  many, 

And  hast  strengthened  the  weak  hands. 


JOB 


287 


Thy  words  have  upheld  him  that  was  fail¬ 
ing, 

And  thou  hast  strengthened  the  feeble  knees. 
But  now  it  has  come  unto  thee,  and  thou 
faintest: 

It  toucheth  thee,  and  thou  art  troubled. 

Is  not  this  thy  fear  of  God,  thy  confidence? 
And  thy  hope,  the  uprightness  of  thy  ways? 
Remember,  I  pray  thee,  who  ever  perished, 
being  innocent? 

Or  where  were  the  righteous  cut  off? 

Even  as  I  have  seen,  they  that  plow  iniquity, 
And  sow  wickedness,  reap  the  same. 

By  the  blast  of  God  they  perish, 

And  by  the  breath  of  his  nostrils  are  they 
consumed. 

The  roaring  of  the  lion,  and  the  voice  of 
the  fierce  lion, 

And  the  teeth  of  the  young  lions,  are 
broken. 

The  old  lion  perisheth  for  lack  of  prey, 

And  the  lioness’  whelps  are  scattered 
abroad. 

Elxphaz  Describes  His  Vision 

Now  a  thing  was  secretly  brought  to  me, 
And  mine  ear  received  a  whisper  thereof. 

In  thoughts  from  the  visions  of  the  night, 
When  deep  sleep  falleth  on  men, 

Fear  came  upon  me  and  trembling, 

Which  made  all  my  bones  to  shake. 

Then  a  spirit  passed  before  my  face: 


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“THEN  A  SPIRIT  PASSED  BEFORE  MY  FACE” 

From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


JOB 


289 


The  hair  of  my  flesh  stood  up. 

It  stood  still,  but  I  could  not  discern  the 
form  thereof; 

An  image  was  before  mine  eyes. 

There  was  silence,  and  I  heard  a  voice 
saying: 

“ Shall  mortal  man  be  more  just  than  God? 
Shall  a  man  be  more  pure  than  his  Maker?” 
Behold,  he  putteth  no  trust  in  his  servants, 
And  his  angels  he  chargeth  with  folly: 

How  much  less  in  them  that  dwell  in  houses 
of  clay, 

Whose  foundation  is  in  the  dust, 

Who  are  crushed  before  the  moth? 

They  are  destroyed,  from  morning  to  eve¬ 
ning: 

They  perish  forever  without  any  regard¬ 
ing  it. 

Is  not  their  tent  cord  torn  up  in  them? 

They  die,  but  not  in  wisdom. 

Only  the  Foolish  Resent  God’s  Dealings 

Call  now,  if  there  be  any  that  will  answer 
thee; 

And  to  which  of  the  angels  wilt  thou  turn? 

For  wrath  killeth  the  foolish  man, 

And  indignation  slayeth  the  silly  one. 

I  have  seen  the  foolish  taking  root: 

But  suddenly  his  branch  became  rotten. 

His  children  are  far  from  safety, 

And  they  are  crushed  in  the  gate, 

Neither  is  there  any  to  deliver  them: 

Whose  harvest  the  hungry  eateth  up, 

And  taketh  it  even  out  of  the  thorns, 


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And  the  thirsty  draw  from  their  wells. 

For  affliction  cometh  not  forth  from  the  dust, 
Neither  doth  trouble  spring  out  of  the 
ground ; 

But  man  is  born  to  trouble, 

As  the  sparks  fly  upward. 

The  Goodness  of  God  Is  Shown  in  His  Chastening 

Were  it  I,  I  would  seek  unto  God, 

And  unto  God  would  I  commit  my  cause; 

Who  doeth  great  things  and  unsearchable, 
Marvelous  things  without  number: 

Who  giveth  rain  upon  the  earth, 

And  sendeth  waters  upon  the  fields: 

To  set  up  on  high  those  that  be  low, 

That  those  who  mourn  may  be  exalted  to  safety. 

He  frustrateth  the  devices  of  the  crafty, 

So  that  their  hands  cannot  perform  their 
enterprise. 

He  taketh  the  wise  in  their  own  craftiness: 

And  the  counsel  of  the  cunning  is  carried 
headlong. 

They  meet  with  darkness  in  the  daytime, 

And  grope  at  noonday  as  in  the  night. 

But  he  saveth  from  the  sword  of  their  mouth, 
Even  the  needy  from  the  hand  of  the  mighty. 

So  the  poor  hath  hope, 

And  iniquity  stoppeth  her  mouth. 

Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  correcteth: 
Therefore  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the 
Almighty. 

For  he  maketh  sore,  and  bindeth  up; 

He  woundeth,  and  his  hands  make  whole. 


JOB 


291 


He  will  deliver  thee  in  six  troubles; 

Yea,  in  seven  there  shall  no  evil  touch  thee. 

In  famine  he  shall  redeem  thee  from  death; 

And  in  war  from  the  power  of  the  sword. 

Thou  shalt  be  hid  from  the  scourge  of  the  tongue ; 
Neither  shalt  thou  be  afraid  of  destruction  when 
it  cometh. 

At  destruction  and  famine  thou  shalt  laugh; 

Neither  shalt  thou  be  afraid  of  the  beasts  of  the 
earth. 

For  thou  shalt  be  in  league  with  the  stones  of  the 
field; 

And  the  beasts  of  the  field  shall  be  at  peace  with  thee. 
And  thou  shalt  know  that  thy  tent  is  peace; 

And  thou  shalt  visit  thy  fold,  and  nothing  shalt 
thou  miss. 

Thou  shalt  know  also  that  thy  family  shall  be 
great, 

And  thine  offspring  as  the  grass  of  the  earth. 

Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full  age, 

Like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  its  season. 

Lo  this,  we  have  searched  it,  so  it  is: 

Hear  it,  and  know  thou  it  for  thy  good. 

JOB 

Job  excuses  his  impatience  on  account  of  the  intensity  of  his  misery, 
which  his  friends  do  not  realize;  a  misery  so  great  that  death  woidd  be  a 
welcome  relief.  He  expects  kindness  from  his  friends,  but  he  finds  them 
cold  and  critical.  Instead  of  constructive  counsel  they  offer  reproof.  In 
the  bitterness  of  his  soul  he  dares  to  accuse  God  of  being  a  tyrannical 
persecutor,  pursuing  him  with  unrelenting  severity  even  unto  death. 

Job  Defends  His  Impatience 

Oh  that  my  vexation  were  thoroughly  weighed, 

And  my  calamity  set  in  the  balance  against  it! 


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JOB  AND  HIS  THREE  FRIENDS 

From  a  painting  by  R.  Leinweber 


JOB 


293 


For  now  it  would  be  heavier  than  the  sand  of  the 
sea: 

Therefore  have  my  words  been  rash. 

For  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  are  within  me, 
The  poison  whereof  drinketh  up  my  spirit: 

The  terrors  of  God  do  set  themselves  in  array 
against  me. 

Doth  the  wild  ass  bray  when  he  hath  grass? 

Or  loweth  the  ox  over  his  fodder? 

Can  that  which  is  unsavory  be  eaten  without  salt? 
Or  is  there  any  taste  in  the  white  of  an  egg? 

The  things  that  my  soul  refuseth  to  touch 
Are  as  my  loathsome  food. 

Job  Longs  for  Death 

Oh  that  I  might  have  my  request; 

And  that  God  would  grant  me  the  thing  that  I 
long  for! 

Even  that  it  would  please  God  to  crush  me, 

That  he  would  let  loose  his  hand,  and  cut  me  off 
Then  would  it  still  be  my  consolation, 

And  I  would  exult  in  anguish  that  spare th  not. 
For  I  have  not  disowned  the  words  of  the  Holy 
One. 

What  is  my  strength,  that  I  should  wait? 

Or  what  is  mine  end,  that  I  should  be  patient? 

Is  my  strength  the  strength  of  stones? 

Or  is  my  flesh  of  brass? 

Is  it  not  that  my  help  within  me  is  nought? 

And  that  wisdom  is  driven  quite  from  me? 

His  Friends  Fail  Him 

To  him  that  is  ready  to  faint,  kindness  is  due 
from  his  friend; 


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Even  to  him  that  forsaketh  the  fear  of  the  Al¬ 
mighty. 

My  brethren  have  dealt  deceitfully  as  a  brook, 

As  the  channel  of  brooks  that  pass  away, 

Which  are  blackish  by  reason  of  the  ice, 

And  wherein  the  snow  is  hid. 

What  time  they  wax  warm,  they  vanish; 

When  it  is  hot,  they  are  consumed  out  of  their 
place. 

The  caravans  that  bend  their  course  thither 
Go  up  through  the  waste  and  perish. 

The  caravans  of  Tema  looked  out  for  them; 

The  companies  of  Sheba  kept  hoping. 

But  their  confidence  brought  them  to  shame; 

They  came  thither  and  were  abashed. 

For  now  ye  are  nothing; 

Ye  see  a  terror  and  are  afraid. 

Did  I  say,  “Bring  unto  me”? 

Or,  “Give  a  bribe  for  me  of  your  substance”? 

Or,  “Deliver  me  from  the  enemy’s  hand”? 

Or,  “Redeem  me  from  the  hand  of  the  tyrant”? 

Job  Seeks  Instruction  Rather  than  Reproof 

Teach  me,  and  I  will  hold  my  tongue; 

And  cause  me  to  understand  wherein  I  have  erred. 
How  forcible  are  right  words! 

But  your  arguing,  what  doth  it  reprove? 

Do  ye  think  to  reprove  words, 

And  the  speeches  of  one  that  is  desperate, 
which  are  as  wind? 

Yea,  ye  would  cast  lots  upon  the  fatherless, 

And  make  an  assault  on  your  friend. 

Now  therefore,  be  pleased  to  look  upon  me; 

For  it  is  evident  unto  you  if  I  lie. 


JOB 


29  5 


(The  friends  turn  away  in  disdain,  but  with  a  gesture  of  appeal  Job 
ies:) 

Return,  I  pray,  let  there  be  no  injustice: 

Turn  back,  for  the  right  is  still  mine. 

Is  there  iniquity  in  my  tongue? 

Have  I  lost  the  sense  of  wrong? 

Job  Describes  His  Suffering 

Is  there  not  an  appointed  time  to  man  upon  earth  ? 
Are  not  his  days  also  like  the  days  of  a  hireling? 

As  a  servant  earnestly  desireth  the  shades  of 
evening, 

And  as  a  hireling  looketh  for  the  reward  of  his  work : 
So  am  I  made  to  possess  months  of  emptiness, 

And  wearisome  nights  are  appointed  to  me. 

When  I  lie  down,  I  say,  “  When  shall  I  rise, 

And  the  night  be  gone?” 

And  I  am  full  of  tossings  to  and  fro 
Unto  the  dawning  of  the  day. 

My  skin  hardeneth,  and  then  breaketh  out  afresh. 
My  days  are  swifter  than  a  weaver’s  shuttle, 

And  are  spent  without  hope. 

Oh  remember  that  my  life  is  wind: 

Mine  eyes  shall  no  more  see  good. 

The  eye  of  him  that  seeth  me  shall  behold 
me  no  more; 

Thine  eyes  shall  look  for  me,  but  I  shall  be 
gone. 

As  the  cloud  is  consumed  and  vanisheth  away, 

So  he  that  goeth  down  to  the  grave  shall 
come  up  no  more. 

He  shall  never  come  back  to  his  house  again, 

And  the  place  that  was  his  shall  know  him 


no  more. 


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JOB  AND  THE  FLOCKS 

From  a  painting  by  Sir  John  Gilbert 


Job  Complains  to  the  Almighty 

Therefore  I  will  not  refrain  my  mouth; 

I  will  speak  in  the  anguish  of  my  spirit; 

I  will  complain  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul. 

Am  I  a  sea,  or  a  sea  monster, 

That  thou  settest  a  watch  over  me? 

When  I  say,  “My  bed  shall  comfort  me. 

My  couch  shall  ease  my  complaint”; 

Then  thou  scarest  me  with  dreams, 

And  terrifiest  me  through  visions: 

So  that  my  soul  chooseth  strangling, 

And  death  rather  than  these  my  bones. 

I  loathe  my  life;  I  would  not  live  alway: 
Let  me  alone;  for  my  days  are  vanity. 


JOB 


21)7 


What  is  man,  that  thou  shouldst  magnify  him, 

And  that  thou  shouldst  set  thy  heart  upon 
him  ? 

And  that  thou  shouldst  visit  him  every  morn¬ 
ing, 

And  test  him  every  moment? 

Oh,  when  wilt  thou  turn  thine  eyes  from  me 

And  leave  me  though  but  for  a  moment  ? 

If  I  have  sinned,  what  can  I  do  to  thee,  0 
thou  watcher  of  men? 

Why  hast  thou  set  me  as  a  target, 

So  that  I  am  a  burden  to  myself? 

And  why  dost  thou  not  pardon  my  trans¬ 
gression, 

And  take  away  mine  iniquity? 

For  now  shall  I  sleep  in  the  dust, 

And  thou  shalt  seek  me  diligently,  but  I 
shall  not  be. 

BILDAD 

A  man  of  about  middle  age,  unconsciously  arrogant,  and  full  of  rev¬ 
erence  for  the  lore  of  the  ancients,  Bildad  is  shocked  at  Job's  complaint 
against  God.  He  takes  the  role  of  defender  of  the  divine  justice.  He 
argues  that  the  justice  of  God  rewards  and  sustains  the  righteous,  but 
punishes  the  wicked.  He  appeals  to  the  wisdom  of  the  past  for  confirma¬ 
tion  and  encourages  Job,  if  really  innocent,  which  Bildad  clearly  doubts, 
still  to  hope  for  prosperity  and  peace. 


Bildad  Reproves  Job’s  Indignation 

How  long  wilt  thou  speak  these  things? 

And  how  long  shall  the  words  of  thy  mouth 
be  like  a  strong  wind? 

Doth  God  pervert  justice? 

Or  doth  the  Almighty  pervert  righteousness? 
If  thy  children  have  sinned  against  him, 


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And  he  have  cast  them  away  for  their  trans¬ 
gression  : 

If  thou  wouldst  seek  unto  God  diligently, 

And  make  thy  supplication  to  the  Almighty; 

If  thou  wert  pure  and  upright; 

Surely  now  he  would  awake  for  thee, 

And  make  the  habitation  of  thy  righteous¬ 
ness  prosperous. 

And  though  thy  beginning  was  small, 

Yet  thy  latter  end  should  greatly  increase. 

Bildad  Appeals  to  the  Wisdom  of  the  Fathers 

For  inquire,  I  pray  thee,  of  the  former  age, 

And  prepare  thyself  to  that  which  their 
fathers  have  searched  out: 

(For  we  are  but  of  yesterday,  and  know 
nothing, 

Because  our  days  upon  earth  are  a  shadow:) 
Shall  not  they  teach  thee  and  tell  thee, 

And  utter  words  out  of  their  heart? 

Can  the  rush  grow  up  without  mire? 

Can  the  flag  grow  without  water? 

Whilst  it  is  yet  in  its  greenness,  and  not  cut 
down, 

It  withereth  before  any  other  herb. 

So  are  the  paths  of  all  that  forget  God; 

And  the  hope  of  the  godless  man  shall  perish: 
Whose  hope  shall  be  cut  off, 

And  whose  trust  shall  be  a  spider’s  web. 

He  shall  lean  upon  his  house,  but  it  shall 
not  stand: 

He  shall  hold  it  fast,  but  it  shall  not  endure. 

He  is  green  before  the  sun, 

And  his  shoots  go  forth  over  his  garden. 


JOB 


299 


His  roots  are  wrapped  about  the  heap; 

He  seeth  the  place  of  stones. 

If  one  destroy  him  from  his  place, 

Then  it  shall  deny  him,  saying,  “I  have  not 
seen  thee.” 

Behold,  that  is  the  joy  of  his  way, 

And  out  of  the  dust  another  springe th. 

Behold,  God  will  not  cast  away  a  perfect  man, 
Neither  will  he  help  the  evildoers; 

He  will  yet  fill  thy  mouth  with  laughing, 

And  thy  lips  with  rejoicing. 

They  that  hate  thee  shall  be  clothed  with 
shame, 

And  the  dwelling  place  of  the  wicked  shall 
come  to  nought. 

JOB 

Although  Job  concedes  that  God  judges  according  to  desert,  he  main¬ 
tains  that  man  in  his  weakness  stands  no  chance  to  prove  his  merit.  Job 
longs  for  an  unprejudiced  umpire  who  would  guarantee  him  a  fair  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  maintain  his  righteousness  before  his  Creator.  In  his  anguish 
he  accuses  God  of  creating  him  in  order  to  torment  him.  He  begs  for  a 
brief  respite  from  pain  before  death  and  the  grave  overtake  him. 

Man  Has  No  Chance  Against  God 

I  know  it  is  so,  of  a  truth. 

But  how  can  a  man  be  just  before  God? 

If  he  were  to  desire  to  contend  with  him, 

He  could  not  answer  him  one  of  a  thousand. 

He  is  wise  in  heart,  and  mighty  in  strength  : 

Who  hath  hardened  himself  against  him, 
and  prospered? 

Who  removeth  the  mountains,  and  they 
know  it  not; 

Who  overturneth  them  in  his  anger; 

Who  shaketh  the  earth  out  of  her  place, 


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And  the  pillars  thereof  tremble; 

Who  commandeth  the  sun,  and  it  riseth  not; 
And  sealeth  up  the  stars; 

Who  alone  spreadeth  out  the  heavens, 

And  treadeth  upon  the  waves  of  the  sea; 

Who  maketh  the  Bear,  Orion,  and  the  Pleiades, 
And  the  chambers  of  the  south; 

Who  doeth  great  things  past  finding  out, 

Yea,  and  wonders  without  number. 

Lo,  he  goeth  by  me,  and  I  see  him  not; 

He  passeth  on  also,  but  I  perceive  him  not. 
Behold,  if  he  seizeth,  who  can  hinder  him? 

Who  dare  say  unto  him,  44 What  doest  thou?” 

Were  I  right,  I  could  give  him  no  answer, 

But  needs  must  entreat  my  judge. 

If  I  had  called,  and  he  had  answered  me, 

Yet  would  I  not  believe  that  he  hearkened 
to  my  voice. 

For  he  breaketh  me  with  a  tempest, 

And  multiplieth  my  wounds  without  cause. 

He  will  not  suffer  me  to  take  my  breath, 

But  filleth  me  with  bitterness. 

If  we  speak  of  strength,  lo,  he  is  strong! 

And  if  of  justice,  44  Who,”  [saith  he]  44  will 
appoint  me  a  time?” 

Though  I  were  righteous,  mine  own  mouth 
would  condemn  me: 

Though  I  were  perfect,  it  would  prove  me 
perverse. 

I  am  perfect;  I  care  not  for  myself; 

I  despise  my  life. 


JOB 


301 


It  is  all  one;  therefore  I  say 
He  destroyeth  the  perfect  and  the  wicked. 

If  the  scourge  slay  suddenly, 

He  will  mock  at  the  calamity  of  the  innocent. 
The  earth  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the  wicked ; 
He  covereth  the  faces  of  the  judges  thereof. 

If  it  be  not  he,  who  then  is  it? 

Job  Cries  for  Justice 

Now  my  days  are  swifter  than  a  post: 

They  flee  away,  they  see  no  good. 

They  are  passed  away  as  the  swift  ships: 

As  the  eagle  that  swoopeth  on  the  prey. 

If  I  say,  I  will  forget  my  complaint, 

I  will  put  off  my  heaviness,  and  be  of  good 
cheer ; 

I  shudder  at  all  my  pains, 

I  know  that  thou  wilt  not  hold  me  innocent. 

I  am  to  be  condemned; 

Why  then  do  I  labor  in  vain? 

For  though  I  wash  me  with  snow, 

And  cleanse  my  hands  with  lye; 

Then  wilt  thou  plunge  me  in  the  mire, 

So  that  even  mine  own  clothes  shall  abhor  me. 

For  he  is  not  a  man,  as  I  am,  that  I  should 
answer  him, 

That  we  should  come  together  in  judgment. 
Neither  is  there  any  umpire  betwixt  us, 

That  might  lay  his  hand  upon  us  both. 

Let  him  take  his  rod  away  from  me, 

And  let  not  his  fear  terrify  me; 

Then  would  I  speak,  and  not  fear  him. 

For  not  such  at  heart  am  I. 


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JOB 

From,  a  painting  by  Leon  Bonnat 


JOB 


303 


My  soul  is  weary  of  my  life. 

I  will  let  my  complaint  take  its  course; 

I  will  speak  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul; 

I  will  say  unto  God:  Do  not  condemn  me. 

Show  me  the  ground  of  thy  quarrel. 

Is  it  good  unto  thee  that  thou  shouldst 
oppress? 

That  thou  shouldst  despise  the  work  of  thy  hands? 
And  shine  upon  the  counsel  of  the  wicked? 

Hast  thou  eyes  of  flesh? 

Or  seest  thou  as  man  seeth? 

Are  thy  days  like  the  days  of  mortals, 

Or  thy  years  like  the  days  of  man, 

That  thou  inquirest  after  mine  iniquity, 

And  searchest  after  my  sin, 

Although  thou  knowest  that  I  am  not  wicked, 

And  there  is  none  that  can  deliver  out  of 
thy  hand? 

The  Creator  Should  Be  Merciful 

Thy  hands  have  made  me 

And  fashioned  me  together  round  about; 

Yet  thou  dost  destroy  me. 

Remember,  I  beseech  thee,  that  thou  hast 
fashioned  me  as  clay; 

And  wilt  thou  bring  me  into  dust  again? 

Hast  thou  not  poured  me  out  as  milk 
And  curdled  me  like  cheese? 

Thou  hast  clothed  me  with  skin  and  flesh, 

And  hast  hedged  me  together  with  bones  and  sinews. 
Thou  hast  granted  me  life  and  favor, 

And  thy  visitation  hath  preserved  my  spirit. 

Yet  these  things  hast  thou  hid  in  thy  heart: 

I  know  that  this  is  with  thee. 


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If  I  sin,  then  thou  markest  me, 

And  thou  wilt  not  acquit  me  from  mine  in¬ 
iquity. 

If  I  were  wicked,  woe  unto  me; 

And  if  I  were  righteous,  yet  will  I  not  lift  up 
my  head, 

Full  of  shame  and  sated  with  affliction  ; 

For  it  increaseth. 

Thou  huntest  me  as  a  fierce  lion: 

And  again  thou  showest  thyself  marvelous 
upon  me. 

Thou  renewest  thy  witnesses  against  me, 

And  increaseth  thine  indignation  upon  me; 

Changes  and  warfare  are  against  me. 

Wherefore  then  hast  thou  brought  me  forth 
out  of  the  womb? 

Oh  that  I  had  given  up  the  ghost,  and  no  eye 
had  seen  me! 

I  should  have  been  as  though  I  had  not  been; 

I  should  have  been  carried  from  the  womb 
to  the  grave. 

Are  not  my  days  few? 

Cease  then,  and  let  me  alone, 

That  I  may  take  comfort  a  little, 

Before  I  go  whence  I  shall  not  return, 

Even  to  the  land  of  darkness  and  the  shadow 
of  death; 

A  land  of  darkness  as  darkness  itself; 

And  of  the  shadow  of  death,  without  any 
order, 

And  where  the  light  is  as  midnight. 


JOB 


305 


ZOPHAR 

Youngest  of  the  three  friends  of  Job,  insolent,  blunt,  and  orthodox, 
Zophar  rebukes  Job’s  presumption  in  criticizing  the  Omnipotent,  and 
maintains  that  God  is  above  human  comprehension.  Implying  Job’s 
guilt,  he  calls  him  to  repentance,  describing  the  joy  and  peace  of  the 
contrite  sinner,  and  comparing  it  with  the  hopeless  lot  of  the  wicked. 

Zophar  Condemns  Job’s  Questioning 

Should  not  the  multitude  of  words  be  answered? 

And  should  a  man  full  of  talk  be  justified? 

Should  thy  lies  make  men  hold  their  peace? 

And  when  thou  mockest,  shall  no  man  make  thee 
ashamed  ? 

For  thou  hast  said,  “My  doctrine  is  pure, 

And  I  am  clean  in  thine  eyes.” 

But  oh  that  God  would  speak, 

And  open  his  lips  against  thee; 

And  that  he  would  show  thee  the  secrets  of  wisdom, 
For  it  is  marvelous  in  effective  counsel. 

Know  therefore  that  God  exacteth  of  thee 
Less  than  thine  iniquity  deserve th. 

The  Divine  Wisdom  Is  Unfathomable 

Canst  thou  by  searching  find  out  God? 

Canst  thou  find  out  the  Almighty  unto  perfection? 

It  is  as  high  as  heaven;  what  canst  thou  do? 

Deeper  than  hell;  what  canst  thou  know? 

The  measure  thereof  is  longer  than  the  earth, 

And  broader  than  the  sea. 

If  he  cut  off  and  shut  up, 

And  summon  together  to  judgment,  then  who  can  hin¬ 
der  him? 

For  he  knoweth  empty  men; 

lie  seetli  wickedness  also,  although  he  consider  it  not. 


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For  vain  man  would  be  wise, 

Though  man  be  born  like  a  wild  ass’s  colt. 

Zophar  Calls  Job  to  Repentance 

If  thou  prepare  thy  heart, 

And  stretch  out  thy  hands  toward  him; 

If  iniquity  be  in  thy  hand,  put  it  far  away, 

And  let  not  wickedness  dwell  in  thy  tents. 

For  then  shalt  thou  lift  up  thy  face  without  spot; 

Yea,  thou  shalt  be  steadfast,  and  shalt  not  fear; 
Because  thou  shalt  forget  thy  misery, 

And  remember  it  as  waters  that  pass  away: 

And  thy  life  shall  be  clearer  than  the  noonday; 

Thou  shalt  shine  forth,  thou  shalt  be  as  the  morning. 
And  thou  shalt  be  secure, 

Because  there  is  hope; 

Yea,  thou  shalt  search  around  thee, 

And  thou  shalt  take  thy  rest  in  safety. 

Also  thou  shalt  lie  down, 

And  none  shall  make  thee  afraid. 

Yea,  many  shall  make  suit  unto  thee. 

But  the  eyes  of  the  wicked  shall  fail, 

And  they  shall  have  no  escape; 

And  their  hope  shall  be  the  giving  up  of  the  ghost. 

JOB 

After  listening  to  the  pious  platitudes  of  his  three  friends,  Job  is 
indignant.  He  asserts  that  his  knowledge  of  Omnipotence  is  as  great  as 
theirs,  but  that  close  observation  shows  that  Omnipotence  frustrates  the 
endeavors  of  man.  Job  dares  to  reason  out  his  case  and  demands  that 
his  sins  be  pointed  out.  He  affirms  that  frail  humanity  requires  gentle¬ 
ness  rather  than  ruthlessness  from  the  hand  of  God.  Up  to  this  point 
Job  has  no  hope  of  life  after  death,  but  believes  that  death  ends  all. 

Job  Ridicules  the  Arguments  of  His  Friends 

No  doubt  but  ye  are  the  people, 

And  wisdom  shall  die  with  you. 


JOB 


307 


But  I  have  understanding  as  well  as  you; 

I  am  not  inferior  to  you. 

Yea,  who  knoweth  not  such  things  as  these? 

But  ask  now  the  beasts,  and  they  shall  teach 
thee ; 

And  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  they  shall  tell  thee : 

Or,  speak  to  the  earth,  and  it  shall  teach  thee; 

And  the  fishes  of  the  sea  shall  declare  unto  thee. 

Who  knoweth  not  in  all  these  that  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  hath  wrought  this? 

In  whose  hand  is  the  soul  of  every  living  thing, 

And  the  breath  of  all  mankind. 

Doth  not  the  ear  try  words, 

Even  as  the  palate  tasteth  its  food? 

44 With  aged  men,”  ye  say,  44 is  wisdom, 

And  in  length  of  days  understanding.” 

With  God  is  wisdom  and  strength; 

He  hath  counsel  and  understanding. 

Behold,  he  breaketh  down,  and  it  cannot  be  built 
again ; 

He  closeth  upon  a  man,  and  there  can  be  no  opening. 
Behold,  he  withholdeth  the  waters,  and  they  dry 
up; 

Again,  he  sendeth  them  out,  and  they  overturn 
the  earth. 

With  him  is  strength  and  wisdom; 

The  deceived  and  the  deceiver  are  his. 

He  leadeth  counselors  away  stripped, 

And  maketh  the  judges  fools. 

He  looseth  the  bonds  of  kings, 


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Auguste  Rodin 


THE  HAND  OF  GOD 


“ Who  knoweth  not  in  all  these  that  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  hath  wrought  this? 

In  whose  hand  is  the  soul  of  every  living  thing. 
And  the  breath  of  all  mankind.” 


JOB 


309 


And  girdeth  their  loins  with  a  girdle. 

He  leadeth  priests  away  stripped, 

And  overthroweth  the  mighty. 

He  removeth  away  the  speech  of  the  trusty, 

And  taketh  away  the  understanding  of  the  aged. 
He  poureth  contempt  upon  princes, 

And  looseth  the  girdle  of  the  strong. 

He  disco vereth  deep  things  out  of  darkness, 

And  bringeth  out  to  light  the  shadow  of  death. 
He  increaseth  the  nations,  and  destroyeth  them: 
He  enlarge th  the  nations,  and  he  leadeth  them 
away. 

He  taketh  away  understanding  from  the  chiefs 
of  the  people  of  the  earth, 

And  causeth  them  to  wander  in  a  wilderness 
where  there  is  no  way. 

They  grope  in  the  dark  without  light; 

And  he  maketh  them  to  stagger  like  a  drunken 
man. 

Lo,  mine  eyes  have  seen  all  this; 

Mine  ear  hath  heard  and  understood  it. 

What  ye  know,  the  same  do  I  know  also: 

I  am  not  inferior  unto  you. 

Job  Accuses  His  Friends  of  Partiality 

Surely  I  would  speak  to  the  Almighty, 

And  I  desire  to  reason  with  God. 

But  ye  are  forgers  of  lies, 

Ye  are  all  physicians  of  no  value. 

Oh  that  ye  would  altogether  hold  your  peace! 
And  it  should  be  to  your  wisdom. 

Hear  now  my  reasoning, 

And  hearken  to  the  pleadings  of  my  lips. 


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Will  ye  speak  wickedly  for  God? 

And  talk  deceitfully  for  him? 

Will  ye  show  partiality  for  him? 

Will  ye  contend  for  God? 

Is  it  good  that  he  should  search  you  out? 

Or  as  one  man  deceiveth  another,  do  ye  so  mock 
him  ? 

He  will  surely  reprove  you, 

If  ye  do  secretly  show  partiality. 

Shall  not  his  loftiness  make  you  afraid, 

And  his  dread  fall  upon  you? 

Your  maxims  are  proverbs  of  ashes, 

Your  defenses  are  defenses  of  clay. 


“THOUGH  HE  SLAY  ME,  YET  WILL  I  TRUST  IN  HIM” 

From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


JOB 


311 


(They  indignantly  interrupt,  but  Job  continues:) 

Hold  your  peace! 

Let  me  alone  that  I  may  speak, 

And  let  come  on  me  what  will! 

Why  should  I  take  my  flesh  in  my  teeth, 

And  put  my  life  in  my  hand? 

Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him: 
Nevertheless  I  will  maintain  mine  own  ways  be¬ 
fore  him. 

Even  that  shall  be  my  salvation, 

For  a  hypocrite  shall  not  come  before  him. 

Hear  diligently  my  speech, 

And  my  declaration  with  your  ears. 

Behold  now,  I  have  ordered  my  cause: 

I  know  that  I  am  righteous. 

Who  is  he  that  will  plead  with  me? 

For  now,  if  I  hold  my  tongue,  I  shall  give  up  the 
ghost. 

(Job  speaks  to  the  Almighty.) 

Only  do  not  two  things  unto  me: 

Then  will  I  not  hide  myself  from  thee. 
Withdraw  thy  hand  far  from  me: 

And  let  not  thy  dread  make  me  afraid. 

Then  call  thou,  and  I  will  answer: 

Or  let  me  speak,  and  answer  thou  me. 

How  many  are  mine  iniquities  and  sins? 

Make  me  to  know  my  transgression  and  my  sin. 
Wherefore  hidest  thou  thy  face, 

And  holdest  me  for  thine  enemy? 

Wilt  thou  break  a  leaf  driven  to  and  fro? 

And  wilt  thou  pursue  the  dry  stubble? 

For  thou  writest  bitter  things  against  me, 

And  makest  me  to  inherit  the  iniquities  of  my 
youth. 


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Thou  puttest  my  feet  also  in  the  stocks, 

And  observest  all  my  paths; 

Thou  settest  a  line  about  the  soles  of  my  feet; 
Although  I  am  like  a  rotten  thing  that  consumeth, 
Like  a  garment  that  is  moth-eaten. 

Man’s  Frailty  Should  Make  God  Merciful 

Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman 
Is  of  few  days,  and  full  of  trouble. 

He  cometh  forth  like  a  flower,  and  is  cut  down; 

He  fleeth  also  as  a  shadow,  and  continueth  not. 

And  dost  thou  open  thine  eyes  upon  such  a  one, 
And  bringest  me  into  judgment  with  thee? 

Who  can  bring  a  clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean? 
Not  one. 

Seeing  his  days  are  determined, 

The  number  of  his  months  are  with  thee, 

Thou  hast  appointed  his  bounds  that  he  cannot 

pass ; 

Turn  away  from  him,  that  he  may  rest, 

Till  he  shall  accomplish,  as  a  hireling,  his  day. 

For  there  is  hope  of  a  tree,  if  it  be  cut  down, 

That  it  will  sprout  again, 

And  that  the  tender  branch  thereof  will  not  cease. 
Though  the  root  thereof  grow  old  in  the  earth. 

And  the  stock  thereof  die  in  the  ground; 

Yet  through  the  scent  of  water  it  will  bud, 

And  bring  forth  boughs  like  a  plant. 

But  man  dieth,  and  wasteth  away; 

Yea,  man  giveth  up  the  ghost,  and  where  is  he? 

As  the  waters  fail  from  the  sea, 

And  the  flood  decayeth  and  drieth  up; 


JOB 


313 


So  man  lieth  down,  and  riseth  not; 

Till  the  heavens  be  no  more,  they  shall  not 
awake, 

Nor  be  raised  out  of  their  sleep. 

Oh  that  thou  wouldst  hide  me  in  the  grave, 

That  thou  wouldst  keep  me  secret,  until  thy 
wrath  be  past, 

That  thou  wouldst  appoint  me  a  set  time,  and 
remember  me! 

Is  There  Life  Beyond  the  Grave 

If  a  man  die,  shall  he  live  again? 

All  the  days  of  my  appointed  time  will  I  wait, 

Till  my  change  come. 

Thou  shalt  call,  and  I  will  answer  thee: 

Thou  wilt  have  a  desire  to  the  work  of  thy 
hands. 

For  now  thou  numberest  my  steps: 

Dost  thou  not  watch  over  my  sin? 

My  transgression  is  sealed  up  in  a  bag, 

And  thou  sewest  up  mine  iniquity. 

And  surely  the  mountain  falling,  cometh  to 
nought, 

And  the  rock  is  removed  out  of  its  place. 

The  waters  wear  the  stones: 

The  overflowings  thereof  wash  away  the  dust  of 
the  earth; 

And  thou  destroy est  the  hope  of  man. 

Thou  prevailest  forever  against  him,  and  he 
passeth. 

Thou  changest  his  countenance,  and  sendest  him 
away. 


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His  sons  come  to  honor,  and  he  knoweth  it  not; 

And  they  are  brought  low,  but  he  perceiveth  it 
not  of  them. 

But  his  flesh  upon  him  shall  have  pain, 

And  his  soul  within  him  shall  mourn. 

THE  SECOND  CYCLE  OF  ARGUMENT 

ELIPHAZ 

Eliphaz  is  deeply  hurt  by  Job’s  assumption  of  wisdom  superior  to 
that  of  his  friends.  Job's  own  words,  he  insists,  prove  his  guilt.  He 
then  vividly  describes  the  conscience-stricken  terror  and  the  doom  of  the 
guilty  man. 

Job’s  Doubting  Hinders  Devotion 

Should  a  wise  man  utter  vain  knowledge, 

And  fill  himself  with  the  east  wind? 

Should  he  reason  with  unprofitable  talk? 

Or  with  speeches  wherewith  he  can  do  no  good? 

Yea,  thou  castest  off  fear, 

And  restrainest  meditation  before  God. 

For  thy  mouth  uttereth  thine  iniquity, 

And  thou  chooses t  the  tongue  of  the  crafty. 

Thine  own  mouth  condemneth  thee,  and  not  I; 

Yea,  thine  own  lips  testify  against  thee. 

Art  thou  the  first  man  that  was  born? 

Or  wast  thou  made  before  the  hills? 

Hast  thou  heard  the  secret  of  God? 

And  dost  thou  monopolize  wisdom  to  thyself? 

What  knowest  thou,  that  we  know  not? 

What  understandest  thou,  which  is  not  in  us? 

With  us  are  both  the  gray -headed  and  very  aged 
men, 

Much  older  than  thy  father. 


JOB 


315 


Are  the  consolations  of  God  small  for  thee? 

The  word  that  dealeth  with  thee  gently? 

Why  doth  thy  heart  carry  thee  away? 

And  what  do  thine  eyes  hint  at, 

That  thou  turnest  thy  spirit  against  God, 

And  lettest  such  words  go  out  of  thy  mouth? 
What  is  man,  that  he  should  be  clean? 

And  he  that  is  born  of  a  woman,  that  he  should 
be  righteous? 

Behold,  he  putteth  no  trust  in  his  holy  ones; 

Yea,  the  heavens  are  not  clean  in  his  sight. 

How  much  more  abominable  and  corrupt  is  man, 
Who  drinketh  iniquity  like  water! 

It  Is  the  Wicked  that  Suffer 

I  will  show  thee;  hear  me; 

And  that  which  I  have  seen  I  will  declare; 

Which  wise  men  have  told  from  their  fathers, 

And  have  not  hid  it: 

Unto  whom  alone  the  earth  was  given, 

And  no  stranger  passed  among  them. 

The  wicked  man  travaileth  with  pain  all  his  days, 
And  the  number  of  years  is  hidden  to  the  oppressor. 
A  dreadful  sound  is  in  his  ears; 

In  prosperity  the  destroyer  shall  come  upon  him. 
He  believeth  not  that  he  shall  return  out  of  dark¬ 
ness, 

And  he  is  waited  for  of  the  sword. 

He  wandereth  abroad  for  bread,  saying,  “Where 
is  it?” 

He  knoweth  that  the  day  of  darkness  is  ready 
at  his  hand. 

Trouble  and  anguish  shall  make  him  afraid; 

They  shall  prevail  against  him,  as  a  king  ready 
to  the  battle. 


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For  he  stretcheth  out  his  hand  against  God, 

And  strengthened  himself  against  the  Almighty. 

He  runneth  upon  him  with  a  stiff  neck, 

Upon  the  thick  bosses  of  his  bucklers; 

Because  he  hath  covered  his  face  with  his  fatness, 

And  maketh  collops  of  fat  upon  his  loins. 

And  he  dwelleth  in  desolate  cities, 

In  houses  which  no  man  inhabited, 

Which  were  ready  to  become  heaps. 

He  shall  not  be  rich,  neither  shall  his  substance 
continue, 

Neither  shall  he  prolong  the  perfection  thereof 
upon  the  earth. 

Let  not  him  that  is  deceived  trust  in  vanity: 

For  vanity  shall  be  his  recompense. 

It  shall  be  cut  off  before  its  time, 

And  his  branch  shall  not  become  green. 

He  shall  shake  off  his  unripe  grape  as  the  vine, 

And  shall  cast  off  his  flower  as  the  olive. 

For  the  company  of  the  godless  shall  be  barren, 

And  fire  shall  consume  the  tents  of  bribery. 

They  conceive  mischief,  and  bring  forth  iniquity, 

And  their  heart  prepared  deceit. 

JOB 

His  answer  is  a  touching  appeal  for  sympathy,  to  his  friends  and  to 
God. 

Job  Complains  of  the  Treatment  He  Has  Received 

I  have  heard  many  such  things: 

Miserable  comforters  are  ye  all. 

Shall  vain  words  have  an  end? 

Or  what  emboldened  thee  that  thou  answerest? 


JOB 


317 


I  also  could  speak  as  ye  do; 

If  your  soul  were  in  my  soul’s  stead, 

I  could  heap  up  words  against  you, 

And  shake  my  head  at  you. 

But  I  would  strengthen  you  with  my  mouth, 

And  the  moving  of  my  lips  would  assuage  your  grief. 
Though  I  speak,  my  grief  is  not  assuaged; 

And  though  I  forbear,  what  am  I  eased? 

But  now  he  hath  made  me  weary — 


(Job  complains  to  God.) 

Thou  hast  made  desolate  all  my  company. 

And  thou  hast  filled  me  with  wrinkles,  which  is 
a  witness  against  me, 


JOB  HEARS  BAD  TIDINGS 

Frirm  a  paintina  by  James  J .  Tissot 


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And  my  leanness  rising  up  in  me  beareth  witness 
to  my  face. 

(He  addresses  his  friends.) 

He  teareth  me  in  his  wrath  who  hateth  me; 

He  gnashed  upon  me  with  his  teeth: 

Mine  enemy  sharpened  his  eyes  upon  me. 

They  have  gaped  upon  me  with  their  mouth; 
They  have  smitten  me  upon  the  cheek  reproach¬ 
fully  ; 

They  have  gathered  themselves  together  against 
me. 

God  hath  delivered  me  to  the  ungodly, 

And  turned  me  over  into  the  hands  of  the  wicked. 

I  was  at  ease,  but  he  hath  broken  me  asunder; 

He  hath  also  taken  me  by  my  neck,  and  shaken 
me  to  pieces, 

And  set  me  up  for  his  target. 

His  archers  compass  me  round  about, 

He  cleaveth  my  reins  asunder,  and  doth  not  spare; 
He  poureth  out  my  gall  upon  the  ground. 

He  breaketh  me  with  breach  upon  breach; 

He  runneth  upon  me  like  a  giant. 

I  have  sewed  sackcloth  upon  my  skin, 

And  have  laid  my  horn  in  the  dust. 

My  face  is  red  with  weeping, 

And  on  my  eyelids  is  the  shadow  of  death, 

Not  for  any  injustice  in  my  hands. 

Also  my  prayer  is  pure. 

Job  Hopes  for  Final  Vindication 

O  earth,  cover  not  thou  my  blood, 

And  let  my  cry  have  no  resting  place ! 

Even  now,  behold,  my  witness  is  in  heaven, 


JOB 


319 


And  he  that  voucheth  for  me  is  on  high. 

My  friends  scorn  me; 

But  mine  eye  pouretli  out  tears  unto  God. 

Oh  that  one  might  plead  for  a  man  with  God, 

As  a  man  pleadeth  for  his  neighbor! 

When  a  few  years  are  come, 

Then  I  shall  go  the  way  whence  I  shall  not  return. 

My  spirit  is  spent,  my  days  are  extinct, 

The  grave  is  ready  for  me. 

Surely  there  are  mockers  with  me, 

And  mine  eye  dwelleth  on  their  provocation. 

(Job  speaks  to  God.) 

Give  now  a  pledge,  be  surety  for  me  with  thyself ; 
Who  is  he  that  will  strike  hands  with  me? 

(Pointing  to  his  friends:) 

For  thou  hast  hid  their  heart  from  understanding; 
Therefore  slialt  thou  not  exalt  them. 

He  that  informeth  against  his  friends  for  a  prey, 
Even  the  eyes  of  his  children  shall  fail. 

But  he  hath  made  me  also  a  byword  of  the  people; 
And  an  object  of  aversion  must  I  be. 

Mine  eye  also  is  dim  by  reason  of  sorrow, 

And  all  my  members  are  as  a  shadow. 

Upright  men  shall  be  astonished  at  this, 

And  the  innocent  shall  stir  up  himself  against 
the  godless. 

Yet  shall  the  righteous  hold  on  his  way, 

And  he  that  hath  clean  hands  shall  wax  stronger 
and  stronger. 


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(Job  speaks  to  his  friends.) 

But  as  for  you  all,  do  ye  return  and  come  now, 

For  I  cannot  find  one  wise  man  among  you. 

He  Despairs  of  Help  in  This  Life 

My  days  are  past,  my  purposes  are  broken  off, 

Even  the  thoughts  of  my  heart. 

They  change  the  night  into  day: 

The  light  is  short  because  of  darkness. 

If  I  look  for  the  grave  as  my  home, 

I  have  made  my  bed  in  the  darkness. 

I  have  said  to  corruption,  “Thou  art  my  father,” 

To  the  worm,  “Thou  art  my  mother,  and  my 
sister.  ” 

Where  then  is  my  hope? 

And  as  for  my  hope,  who  shall  see  it? 

It  shall  go  down  to  the  bars  of  the  grave. 

When  our  rest  together  is  in  the  dust. 

BILDAD 

By  picturing  the  sure  and  awful  fate  of  the  godless  in  words  sugges¬ 
tive  of  Job’s  recent  calamities,  Bildad  conveys  the  strong  hint  that  Job  is 
one  of  these  godless  ones.  This  heightens  the  tragedy  of  Job’s  situation 
and  leads  to  the  climax. 

The  Fate  of  the  Wicked 

How  long  will  ye  lay  snares  for  words? 

Consider,  and  afterwards  we  will  speak. 

Wherefore  are  we  counted  as  beasts, 

And  reputed  vile  in  your  sight? 

Thou  that  tearest  thyself  in  thine  anger, 

Shall  the  earth  be  forsaken  for  thee? 

And  shall  the  rock  be  removed  out  of  his  place? 

Yea,  the  light  of  the  wicked  shall  be  put  out, 

And  the  spark  of  his  fire  shall  not  shine. 


JOB 


321 


The  light  shall  be  dark  in  his  tent, 

And  his  candle  shall  be  put  out  with  him. 

The  steps  of  his  strength  shall  be  straitened, 

And  his  own  counsel  shall  cast  him  down. 

For  he  is  cast  into  a  net  by  his  own  feet, 

So  that  over  the  network  he  sprawleth. 

A  snare  shall  take  him  by  the  heel, 

And  a  trap  shall  close  tightly  upon  him. 

A  noose  for  him  is  hid  in  the  ground, 

And  a  trap  for  him  in  the  way. 

Terrors  shall  make  him  afraid  on  every  side. 

And  shall  chase  him  at  every  step. 

His  strength  shall  be  hunger-bitten, 

And  calamity  shall  be  ready  for  his  halting. 

It  shall  devour  the  strength  of  his  skin. 

Even  the  first-born  of  death  shall  devour  his 
strength. 

His  confidence  shall  be  rooted  out  of  his  tent, 

And  it  shall  bring  him  to  the  king  of  terrors. 

There  shall  dwell  in  his  tent  that  which  is  none  of  his : 
Brimstone  shall  be  scattered  upon  his  habitation. 

His  roots  shall  be  dried  up  beneath, 

And  above  shall  his  branch  be  cut  off. 

His  remembrance  shall  perish  from  the  earth, 

And  he  shall  have  no  name  in  the  street. 

He  shall  be  driven  from  light  into  darkness, 

And  chased  out  of  the  world. 

He  shall  have  neither  son  nor  grandson  among 
his  people, 

Nor  any  remaining  in  his  dwellings. 

They  that  come  after  him  shall  be  astonished  at 
his  day, 

As  they  that  went  before  were  affrighted. 

Surely  such  are  the  dwellings  of  the  wicked, 

And  this  is  the  place  of  him  that  knoweth  not  God. 


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JOB 

Job  protests  against  the  crushing  reproaches  of  his  friends.  He  cries 
out  against  the  heartlessness  of  God  who  has  turned  friends  and  kindred 
against  him.  He  appeals  to  his  friends  for  pity,  but  they  fail  him.  He  turns 
to  posterity  for  justification;  but  this  is  impracticable.  Under  the  sway 
of  profound  emotion  he  makes  his  great  venture  of  faith,  and  asserts  his 
confidence  that  God  will  justify  him:  after  death,  in  one  glorious  moment, 
God  will  appear  as  a  friend  on  his  side  to  vindicate  him,  and  Job  himself 
w  ill  see  him. 

Job  Cries  out  Against  the  Harshness  of  His 

Friends 

How  long  will  ye  vex  my  soul, 

And  break  me  in  pieces  with  words? 

These  ten  times  have  ye  reproached  me: 

Ye  are  not  ashamed  that  ye  harden  yourselves 
against  me. 

And  if  indeed  I  have  erred, 

Aline  error  remaineth  with  myself. 

If  indeed  ye  will  magnify  yourselves  against  me, 

And  plead  against  me  my  reproach, 

Know  now  that  God  hath  overthrown  me, 

And  hath  encircled  me  with  his  net. 

God  Seems  to  be  His  Enemy 

Behold,  I  cry  out! 

But  I  am  not  heard; 

I  cry  for  help,  but  there  is  no  justice. 

He  hath  fenced  up  my  way  that  I  cannot  pass, 

And  he  hath  set  darkness  in  my  paths. 

He  hath  stripped  me  of  my  glory, 

And  taken  the  crown  from  my  head. 

He  hath  broken  me  down  on  every  side,  and  I  am 
gone; 

And  my  hope  hath  he  removed  like  a  tree. 

He  hath  also  kindled  his  wrath  against  me, 


JOB 


323 


And  he  counteth  me  unto  him  as  one  of  his  ad¬ 
versaries. 

His  troops  come  on  together, 

And  cast  up  their  way  against  me, 

And  encamp  round  about  my  tent. 

He  hath  put  my  brethren  far  from  me, 

And  mine  acquaintance  are  verily  estranged  from 
me. 

My  kinsfolk  have  failed, 

And  my  familiar  friends  have  forgotten  me. 

They  that  dwell  in  my  house,  and  my  maids, 
Count  me  for  a  stranger: 

I  am  an  alien  in  their  sight. 

I  call  unto  my  servant,  and  he  giveth  me  no 
answer; 

I  must  entreat  him  with  my  mouth. 

My  breath  is  strange  to  my  wife, 

And  I  am  loathsome  to  the  children  of  my  body. 
Even  young  children  despise  me: 

I  would  arise,  and  they  speak  against  me! 

All  the  men  of  my  circle  abhor  me, 

And  they  whom  I  loved  are  turned  against  me. 
My  bone  cleaveth  to  my  skin  and  to  my  flesh, 
And  I  am  escaped  with  the  skin  of  my  teeth. 

Have  pity  upon  me,  have  pity  upon  me,  0  ye  my 
friends, 

For  the  hand  of  God  hath  touched  me. 

Why  do  ye  persecute  me  as  God, 

And  are  not  satisfied  with  my  flesh? 

Job  Has  Faith  in  His  Vindicator 

Oh  that  my  words  were  now  written! 

Oh  that  they  were  printed  in  a  book! 


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That  they  were  graven  with  iron  pen 
And  lead,  in  the  rock  forever! 

For  I  know  that  my  Redeemer43  liveth, 

And  that  he  shall  stand  up  at  the  last  upon  the 
earth : 

And  after  my  skin  hath  been  thus  destroyed, 

Yet  from  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God, 

Whom  I  shall  see  for  myself, 

And  mine  eyes  shall  behold, 

And  not  another. 

(Job  nearly  faints  with  emotion.) 

My  reins  are  consumed  within  me! 

(Collecting  himself,  Job  warns  his  tormentors  of  the  penalty  due  for 
unjust  accusations.) 

If  ye  say,  “How  we  will  persecute  him!” 

And  that  the  root  of  the  matter  [the  cause  of 
these  calamities]  is  found  in  me, 

Be  ye  afraid  of  the  sword : 

For  [God’s]  wrath  bringeth  the  punishments  of 
the  sword, 

That  ye  may  know  there  is  a  judgment. 

ZOPHAR 

Zophar  declares  that  although  the  wicked  apparently  prosper  for  a 
time,  they  perish;  their  ill-gotten  gains  are  returned;  their  children  suffer 
want;  and  even  heaven  and  earth  turn  against  them. 

The  Triumph  of  the  Wicked  Is  Brief 

Therefore  do  my  thoughts  cause  me  to  answer; 

For  this  reason  I  hasten  to  speak. 

I  must  hear  the  reproof  which  putteth  me  to  shame; 
But  the  spirit  of  my  understanding  answereth  me. 

Knowest  thou  not  this  of  old, 

Since  man  was  placed  upon  earth, 


JOB 


325 


That  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked  is  short, 

And  the  joy  of  the  hypocrite  but  for  a  moment? 
Though  his  excellency  mount  up  to  the  heavens, 
And  his  head  reach  unto  the  clouds; 

Yet  he  shall  perish  forever. 

They  who  have  seen  him  shall  say,  “Where  is  he?” 
He  shall  fly  away  as  a  dream,  and  shall  not  be  found; 
Yea,  he  shall  be  chased  away  as  a  vision  of  the  night. 
The  eye  also  that  saw  him  shall  see  him  no  more, 
Neither  shall  his  place  any  more  behold  him. 

His  children  shall  court  the  favor  of  the  poor, 

And  his  hands  shall  restore  his  wealth. 

His  bones  are  full  of  his  youth, 

But  it  shall  lie  down  with  him  in  the  dust. 

Though  wickedness  be  sweet  in  his  mouth, 

Though  he  hide  it  under  his  tongue, 

Though  he  spare  it,  and  do  not  let  it  go, 

But  keep  it  still  within  his  mouth; 

Yet  his  food  in  his  stomach  is  turned, 

It  is  poison  of  asps  within  him. 

He  hath  swallowed  down  riches, 

And  he  shall  vomit  them  up  again; 

God  will  cast  them  out  of  his  belly. 

He  shall  suck  the  poison  of  asps: 

The  viper’s  tongue  shall  slay  him. 

He  shall  not  see  the  rivers, 

The  streams  of  honey  and  butter. 

That  which  he  labored  for  shall  he  restore, 

And  shall  not  swallow  it  down: 

According  to  the  gains  of  his  exchange, 

He  shall  not  rejoice! 

Because  he  hath  oppressed  and  hath  forsaken  the 
poor, 


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Because  he  hath  violently  taken  away  a  house 
which  he  builded  not, 

Because  he  knew  no  quietness  within  him, 

He  shall  not  save  of  that  which  he  desired. 

There  shall  none  of  his  food  be  left: 

Therefore  his  prosperity  shall  not  endure. 

In  the  fulness  of  his  sufficiency  he  shall  be  in 
straits : 

Every  hand  of  the  wicked  shall  come  upon  him. 

God  shall  cast  the  fierceness  of  his  wrath  upon 
him, 

And  will  rain  it  upon  him  as  his  food. 

He  shall  flee  from  the  iron  weapon, 

And  the  bow  of  brass  shall  strike  him  through. 

He  draweth  it  forth,  and  it  cometh  out  of  his 
back; 

Yea,  the  glittering  sword  cometh  out  of  his  gall: 
Terrors  are  upon  him. 

All  darkness  is  laid  up  for  his  treasures; 

A  fire  not  blown  by  man  shall  devour  him; 

It  shall  consume  that  which  is  left  in  his  tent. 

The  heavens  shall  reveal  his  iniquity; 

And  the  earth  shall  rise  up  against  him. 

The  increase  of  his  house  shall  depart, 

And  his  goods  shall  flow  away,  in  the  day  of  his 
wrath. 

This  is  the  portion  of  a  wicked  man  from  God, 

And  the  heritage  appointed  unto  him  by  God. 

JOB 

Job  challenges  the  truth  of  Zophar’s  doctrine  of  the  premature  de¬ 
struction  of  the  wicked.  Sinners  do  not  receive  their  due.  It  is  not  fair 
that  their  punishment  should  be  reserved  for  their  children.  The  evil 
man  is  spared,  and  dies  honored  of  men. 


JOB 


327 


Why  Do  the  Wicked  Prosper? 

Hear  diligently  my  speech, 

And  let  this  be  your  consolations. 

Suffer  me  that  I  may  speak, 

And  after  I  have  spoken,  mock  on. 

As  for  me,  is  my  complaint  to  man? 

And  if  so,  why  should  not  my  spirit  be  troubled? 

Mark  me,  and  be  astonished, 

And  lay  your  hand  upon  your  mouth. 

Even  when  I  remember  I  am  afraid, 

And  horror  taketh  hold  on  my  flesh. 

Wherefore  do  the  wicked  live, 

Become  old,  yea,  wax  mighty  in  power? 

Their  family  is  established  in  their  sight  with  them, 

And  their  offspring  before  their  eyes. 

Their  houses  are  safe  from  fear, 

Neither  is  the  rod  of  God  upon  them. 

They  send  forth  their  little  ones  like  a  flock, 

And  their  children  dance. 

They  sing  to  the  timbrel  and  harp, 

And  rejoice  at  the  sound  of  the  pipe. 

They  spend  their  days  in  wealth, 

And  in  a  moment  they  go  down  to  the  grave. 

Yet  they  say  to  God,  “Depart  from  us; 

For  we  desire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy  ways. 

What  is  the  Almighty  that  we  should  serve  him? 

And  what  profit  should  we  have,  if  we  pray  unto  him?” 

Lo,  their  prosperity  is  not  in  their  hand. 

The  counsel  of  the  wicked  is  far  from  me. 

How  often  is  it  that  the  candle  of  the  wicked  is  put  out? 
That  their  calamity  cometh  upon  them? 


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That  God  distribute th  sorrows  in  his  anger? 

That  they  are  as  stubble  before  the  wind, 

And  as  chaff  that  the  storm  carrieth  away? 

Ye  say,  “God  layeth  up  his  iniquity  for  his  chil¬ 
dren.  ” 

Let  him  recompense  it  unto  himself,  that  he  may  know 
it. 

Let  his  own  eyes  see  his  destruction, 

And  let  him  drink  of  the  wrath  of  the  Almighty. 

For  what  pleasure  hath  he  in  his  house  after  him, 

When  the  number  of  his  months  is  cut  off  in  the  midst? 

Shall  any  teach  God  knowledge, 

Seeing  he  judgeth  those  that  are  high? 

One  dieth  in  his  full  strength, 

Being  wholly  at  ease  and  quiet. 

His  pails  are  full  of  milk 

And  the  marrow  of  his  bones  is  moistened. 

And  another  dieth  in  bitterness  of  soul, 

And  never  eateth  with  pleasure. 

They  shall  lie  down  alike  in  the  dust, 

And  the  worms  shall  cover  them. 

The  Wicked  Come  to  a  Peaceful  End 
Behold,  I  know  your  thoughts, 

And  the  devices  which  ye  wrongly  imagine  against 
me. 

For  ye  say,  “Where  is  the  house  of  the  prince? 

And  where  are  the  dwelling  places  of  the  wicked?” 
Have  ye  not  asked  them  that  go  by  the  way? 

And  do  ye  not  know  their  evidences, 

That  the  wicked  man  is  spared  in  the  day  of  calam¬ 
ity? 


JOB 


329 


That  he  is  delivered  in  the  day  of  wrath? 

Who  shall  declare  his  way  to  his  face? 

And  who  shall  repay  him  what  he  hath  done? 

Yet  shall  he  be  brought  to  the  grave, 

And  shall  remain  in  the  tomb. 

The  clods  of  the  valley  shall  be  sweet  to  him, 

And  every  man  shall  draw  after  him, 

As  there  were  innumerable  before  him. 

How  then  comfort  ye  me  in  vain, 

Seeing  in  your  answers  there  remaineth  nought  but 
falsehood? 

THE  THIRD  CYCLE  OF  ARGUMENT 

ELIPHAZ 

Job  will  not  acknowledge  that  he  has  sinned;  yet,  according  to  the 
view  of  his  friends,  no  other  explanation  of  his  misery  is  possible.  Eli- 
phaz,  accordingly,  puts  aside  the  method  of  vague  implication  and  be¬ 
comes  specific.  He  accuses  Job  of  dishonesty,  inhumanity,  lack  of 
generosity,  and  presuming  to  hide  his  iniquity  from  God.  He  summons 
Job  to  repentance  and  urges  him  to  return  to  God,  promising  him  joy 
and  peace. 

Job  Is  Definitely  Accused  of  Sin 

Can  a  man  be  profitable  to  God? 

Nay,  he  that  is  wise  is  profitable  unto  himself. 

Is  it  any  pleasure  to  the  Almighty  that  thou  art  right¬ 
eous? 

Or  is  it  gain  to  him  that  thou  makest  thy  ways  perfect? 
Will  he  reprove  thee,  for  fear  of  thee? 

Will  he  enter  with  thee  into  judgment? 

Is  not  thy  wickedness  great? 

And  thine  iniquities  are  infinite. 

For  thou  hast  taken  pledges  of  thy  brother  for  nought, 
And  stripped  the  naked  of  their  clothing. 


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Thou  hast  not  given  water  to  the  weary  to  drink, 

And  thou  hast  withholden  bread  from  the  hungry. 

But  as  for  the  mighty  man,  he  had  the  earth, 

And  the  eminent  man  dwelt  therein. 

Thou  hast  sent  widows  away  empty, 

And  the  arms  of  the  fatherless  have  been  broken. 
Therefore  snares  are  round  about  thee, 

And  sudden  fear  troubleth  thee; 

Or  darkness,  that  thou  canst  not  see; 

And  abundance  of  waters  cover  thee. 

Sin  Cannot  Be  Hidden  from  God 

Is  not  God  in  the  height  of  heaven? 

And  behold  the  height  of  the  stars,  how  high  they 
are! 

And  thou  savest,  44 How  doth  God  know? 

Can  he  judge  through  the  dark  cloud? 

Thick  clouds  are  a  covering  to  him,  that  he  seeth  not; 
And  he  walketh  in  the  circuit  of  heaven.  ” 

Hast  thou  marked  the  old  way, 

Which  wicked  men  have  trodden, 

Who  were  cut  down  out  of  time, 

Whose  foundation  was  overthrown  with  a  flood, 

Who  said  unto  God,  44 Depart  from  us”; 

And  4 4 What  can  the  Almighty  do  to  us?” 

Yet  he  filled  their  houses  with  good  things: 

But  the  counsel  of  the  wicked  is  far  from  me. 

The  righteous  see  it,  and  are  glad; 

And  the  innocent  laugh  them  to  scorn, 

Saying,  44  Surely  their  substance  is  cut  off, 

And  that  which  remained  to  them  the  fire  hath  con¬ 
sumed.” 


JOB 


331 


The  Sinner  Is  Urged  to  Repentance 

Acquaint  now  thyself  with  him  and  be  at  peace: 
Thereby  shall  good  come  to  thee. 

Receive,  I  pray  thee,  instruction  from  his  mouth, 

And  lay  up  his  words  in  thy  heart. 

If  thou  return  to  the  Almighty,  and  humble 
thyself, 

If  thou  put  away  iniquity  far  from  thy  tents; 

And  lay  thou  thy  treasure  in  the  dust, 

And  the  gold  of  Ophir  among  the  stones  of  the 
brooks ; 

Then  the  Almighty  shall  be  thy  treasure, 

And  plenty  of  silver  shall  be  unto  thee; 

For  then  shalt  thou  have  thy  delight  in  the  Al¬ 
mighty, 

And  shalt  lift  up  thy  face  unto  God; 

Thou  shalt  make  thy  prayer  unto  him,  and  he 
shall  hear  thee, 

And  thou  shalt  pay  thy  vows. 

Thou  shalt  also  decree  a  thing, 

And  it  shall  be  established  unto  thee: 

And  the  light  shall  shine  upon  thy  ways. 

And  when  men  cast  thee  down,  thou  shalt  say, 

“There  is  lifting  up”; 

And  the  humble  person  he  shall  save. 

He  shall  deliver  the  innocent: 

Yea,  thou  shalt  be  delivered  through  the  clean¬ 
ness  of  thy  hands. 

JOB 

Job  passionately  craves  access  to  God,  but  he  cannot  find  him.  Al¬ 
though  convinced  that  God  knows  what  he  is  suffering  and  that  he  is 
testing  him  through  it,  yet  he  is  afraid  of  God.  Looking  away  from  himself 
to  the  wide  world,  he  sees  only  evidences  of  divine  indifference  to  wicked¬ 
ness.  Sinners  perish,  but  only  as  do  all  other  men. 


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Job  Longs  to  Find  God 

Even  today  is  my  complaint  defiant: 

My  stroke  is  heavier  than  my  groaning. 

Oh  that  I  knew  where  I  might  find  him, 

That  I  might  come  even  to  his  seat! 

I  would  set  out  my  case  before  him, 

And  fill  my  mouth  with  arguments. 

I  would  know  the  words  which  he  would  answer  me, 
And  understand  what  he  would  say  unto  me. 

Would  he  contend  with  me  with  his  great  power? 
Nay,  but  he  would  give  heed  unto  me; 

There  the  righteous  might  reason  with  him; 

So  should  I  be  delivered  forever  from  my  judge. 

Behold,  I  go  forward, 

But  he  is  not  there; 

And  backward, 

But  I  cannot  perceive  him: 

On  the  left  hand,  where  he  doth  work, 

But  I  cannot  behold  him; 

He  hideth  himself  on  the  right  hand, 

That  I  cannot  see  him. 

But  he  knoweth  the  way  that  I  take: 

When  he  hath  tried  me,  I  shall  come  forth  as  gold. 
My  foot  hath  held  to  his  steps; 

His  way  have  I  kept,  and  not  turned  aside. 

Neither  have  I  gone  back  from  the  commandment 
of  his  lips; 

I  have  esteemed  the  words  of  his  mouth  more  than 
my  necessary  food. 

Job  Fears  God’s  Omnipotence 

But  he  is  in  one  mind,  and  who  can  turn  him? 

And  what  his  soul  desire th,  even  that  he  doeth. 


JOB 


333 


For  he  performeth  the  thing  that  is  appointed  for  me; 
And  many  such  things  are  with  him. 

Therefore  am  I  troubled  at  his  presence; 

When  I  consider,  I  am  afraid  of  him. 

For  God  maketh  my  heart  faint, 

And  the  Almighty  troubleth  me; 

Because  I  was  not  cut  off  before  the  darkness, 
Neither  hath  he  covered  the  thick  darkness  from  my 
face. 

Examples  of  Injustice  in  the  World 

Why  doth  God  not  fix  seasons  for  judgment, 

And  why  do  his  friends  never  see  his  great  day? 
There  are  those  that  remove  the  landmarks: 

They  violently  take  away  flocks,  and  feed  thereof. 
They  drive  away  the  ass  of  the  fatherless; 

They  take  the  widow’s  ox  for  a  pledge. 

They  turn  the  needy  out  of  the  way: 

The  poor  of  the  earth  hide  themselves  together. 
Behold,  as  wild  asses  in  the  desert, 

They  go  forth  to  their  work,  rising  early  for  food; 
The  wilderness  yieldeth  food  for  them  and  for  their 
children. 

They  reap  every  one  his  grain  in  the  field; 

And  they  gather  the  vintage  of  the  wicked. 

They  cause  the  naked  to  lodge  without  clothing, 
That  they  have  no  covering  in  the  cold. 

They  are  wet  with  the  showers  of  the  mountains, 

And  embrace  the  rock  for  want  of  a  shelter. 

There  are  those  that  pluck  the  fatherless  from  the 
breast, 

And  take  a  pledge  of  the  poor; 

They  cause  him  to  go  naked  without  clothing; 

And  they  take  away  the  sheaf  from  the  hungry, 


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Who  make  oil  within  their  walls, 

And  tread  their  winepresses,  and  suffer  thirst. 

Men  groan  from  out  of  the  city, 

And  the  soul  of  the  wounded  crieth  out: 

Yet  God  regardeth  not  the  folly. 

They  are  of  those  that  rebel  against  the  light; 

They  know  not  the  ways  thereof, 

Nor  abide  in  the  paths  thereof. 

The  murderer  riseth  with  the  light; 

He  killeth  the  poor  and  needy; 

And  in  the  night  he  is  as  a  thief. 

The  eye  also  of  the  adulterer  waiteth  for  the  twilight, 
Saying,  “No  eye  shall  see  me”; 

And  he  disguiseth  his  face. 

In  the  dark  they  dig  through  houses, 

Which  they  had  marked  for  themselves  in  the  daytime : 
They  know  not  the  light: 

For  the  morning  is  to  them  as  the  shadow  of  death: 
For  they  know  the  terrors  of  darkness. 

“Swiftly,”  [ye  say],  'They  pass  away  upon  the  face  of 
the  waters; 

Their  portion  is  cursed  in  the  earth: 

No  treader  turneth  toward  their  vineyard. 

Drought  and  heat  consume  the  snow  waters: 

So  doth  the  grave  those  that  have  sinned. 

The  womb  shall  forget  him; 

The  worm  shall  feed  sweetly  on  him; 

He  shall  be  no  more  remembered; 

And  unrighteousness  shall  be  broken  as  a  tree. 

He  ill-treateth  the  barren  that  beareth  not, 

And  doeth  not  good  to  the  widow.” 

Yet  God  preserveth  the  mighty  with  his  power; 

He  riseth  up  that  hath  no  assurance  of  life. 


JOB 


335 


God  giveth  him  safety,  whereon  he  resteth: 

Yet  his  eyes  are  upon  their  ways. 

They  are  exalted  for  a  little  while,  and  they  are  gone; 
Yea,  they  are  brought  low,  they  are  taken  out  of  the 
way  as  all  others, 

And  are  cut  off  as  the  tops  of  the  ears  of  grain. 

And  if  it  be  not  so  now,  who  will  make  me  a  liar, 

And  make  my  speech  nothing  worth? 

BILDAD 

Sarcastically  Bildad  says  to  Job:  “Is  God  so  weak  that  you  can  help 
him,  or  so  ignorant  that  you  can  advise  him?  Indeed  he  is  so  powerful 
that  mere  man  cannot  stand  vindicated  before  him.  We  see  his  power  in 
nature;  yet  what  we  see  of  it  is  to  its  reality  as  the  sound  of  a  whisper  is  to 
the  noise  of  thunder.” 

How  hast  thou  helped  him  that  is  without  power ! 

How  savest  thou  the  arm  that  hath  no  strength ! 

How  hast  thou  counseled  him  that  hath  no  wisdom, 
And  plentifully  declared  sound  knowledge! 

To  whom  hast  thou  uttered  words? 

And  whose  spirit  came  forth  from  thee? 

Dominion  and  fear  are  with  him: 

He  maketh  peace  in  his  high  places. 

Is  there  any  number  of  his  armies? 

And  upon  whom  doth  not  his  light  arise? 

How  then  can  a  man  be  justified  with  God? 

Or  how  can  he  be  clean,  that  is  born  of  a  woman? 
Behold,  even  the  moon  hath  no  brightness; 

Yea,  the  stars  are  not  pure  in  his  sight. 

How  much  less  man,  that  is  a  worm! 

And  the  son  of  man,  that  is  a  worm! 

The  shades  do  tremble, 

Whose  home  is  beneath  the  waters; 

Hell  is  naked  before  God, 


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And  Abaddon  hath  no  covering. 

He  stretcheth  out  the  north  over  empty  space, 

And  hangeth  the  earth  upon  nothing. 

He  bindeth  up  the  waters  in  his  thick  clouds, 

And  the  cloud  is  not  rent  under  them. 

He  closetli  in  the  face  of  his  throne, 

And  spreadeth  his  cloud  upon  it. 

He  hath  encircled  the  waters  with  bounds. 

Unto  the  confines  of  light  and  darkness. 

The  pillars  of  heaven  tremble 
And  are  astonished  at  his  reproof. 

He  stilleth  the  sea  with  his  power, 

And  by  his  understanding  he  smite th  through  Rahab. 
By  his  spirit  he  hath  beautified  the  heavens; 

His  hand  pierceth  the  swift  serpent. 

Lo,  these  are  but  the  outskirts  of  his  ways; 

And  how  small  a  whisper  do  we  hear  of  him ! 

But  the  thunder  of  his  power  who  can  comprehend? 


JOB 

Job  swears  that  he  is  right  and  that  his  friends  are  wrong.  He  will 
hold  fast  to  the  testimony  of  his  own  conscience  as  long  as  he  lives.  His 
intense  earnestness  and  his  inner  sincerity  will  permit  him  to  do  nothing  else. 

As  God  liveth,  who  hath  taken  away  my  right; 

And  the  Almighty,  who  hath  made  my  soul  bitter 
(For  my  breath  is  yet  in  me, 

And  the  spirit  of  God  is  in  my  nostrils) ; 

My  lips  shall  not  speak  wickedness, 

Nor  my  tongue  utter  deceit. 

God  forbid  that  I  should  justify  you: 

Till  I  die  I  will  not  remove  mine  integrity  from  me. 
My  righteousness  I  hold  fast,  and  will  not  let  it  go : 

My  heart  shall  not  reproach  me  so  long  as  I  live. 

Ye  have  all  with  your  own  eyes  seen  it; 

Wherefore,  then,  this  idle  folly? 


JOB 


337 


ZOPHAR 

Zophar  reiterates  liis  dogma  that  the  godless  are  hopeless.  God  will 
not  hear  the  wicked  man  who  prays  to  him  in  trouble.  Not  he,  but  the 
innocent,  will  profit  from  his  labors.  God  and  man  will  hiss  him  into 
oblivion. 

Let  mine  enemy  be  as  the  wicked, 

And  let  him  that  riseth  up  against  me 
Be  as  the  unrighteous. 

For  what  is  the  hope  of  the  godless,  though  he  hath 
gained, 

When  God  require th  his  soul? 

Will  God  hear  his  cry 

When  trouble  cometh  upon  him? 

Will  he  delight  himself  in  the  Almighty, 

Will  he  always  call  upon  God? 

I  will  teach  you  concerning  the  hand  of  God; 

That  which  is  in  the  mind  of  the  Almighty  will  I 
not  conceal. 

This  is  the  portion  of  a  wicked  man  with  God, 

And  the  heritage  of  oppressors,  which  they  shall  re¬ 
ceive  of  the  Almighty: 

If  his  children  be  multiplied,  it  is  for  the  sword; 

And  his  offspring  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  bread. 
Those  that  remain  of  him  shall  be  buried  in  death, 
And  his  widows  shall  make  no  lamentation, 

Though  he  heap  up  silver  as  the  dust, 

And  prepare  raiment  as  the  clay; 

He  may  prepare  it,  but  the  just  shall  put  it  on. 

And  the  innocent  shall  divide  the  silver. 

He  buildeth  his  house,  as  a  moth, 

And  as  a  booth  which  the  keeper  maketh. 

He  lieth  down  rich,  but  he  shall  not  be  gathered; 


338  THE  MASTER  LIBRARY 

He  openeth  his  eyes,  and  he  is  not. 

Terrors  take  hold  of  him  as  waters; 

A  tempest  stealeth  him  away  in  the  night. 

The  east  wind  carrieth  him  away  and  he  departeth: 

And  it  sweepeth  him  out  of  his  place. 

For  God  hurleth  at  him,  and  doth  not  spare: 

He  would  fain  flee  out  of  his  hand. 

Men  shall  clap  their  hands  at  him 

And  shall  hiss  him  out  of  his  place. 

JOB 

Job  arouses  himself  for  his  final  defense.  He  portrays  in  words  of 
pathos  and  beauty  a  picture  of  “the  good  old  days'’  of  the  past,  when  he 
was  the  honored  benefactor  of  all.  Against  the  cpiiet  beauty  of  this  picture 
he  paints  the  present  with  its  pain,  disgrace,  and  despair.  As  a  man  whose 
life  is  in  imminent  peril,  he  stretches  out  eager  hands  toward  men  and  God. 


JOB  AND  HIS  FAMILY 

From  a  painting  by  James  J.  Tissot 


JOB 


339 


In  vivid  detail  he  describes  his  deeds  of  generosity,  mercy,  and  love.  Be¬ 
fore  God  he  makes  his  solemn  oath  of  clearance.  He  closes  the  long  debate 
with  a  cry  to  God  for  the  divine  indictment.  He  would  then  come  before 
him  like  a  prince,  conscience-free  and  heart-sincere,  to  clear  himself  be¬ 
fore  God. 


Job  Recalls  Past  Days 

Oh  that  I  were  as  in  the  months  of  old, 

As  in  the  days  when  God  watched  over  me, 

When  his  lamp  shone  upon  my  head, 

And  when  by  his  light  I  walked  through  darkness; 
As  I  was  in  the  days  of  my  youth, 

When  the  friendship  of  God  was  upon  my  tent; 
When  the  Almighty  was  yet  with  me, 

When  my  children  were  about  me; 

When  my  steps  were  washed  in  milk, 

And  the  rock  poured  me  rivers  of  oil. 

When  I  went  out  to  the  gate  through  the  city, 

When  I  prepared  my  seat  in  the  street! 

The  young  men  saw  me,  and  hid  themselves: 

And  the  aged  rose,  and  stood  up. 

The  princes  refrained  from  talking, 

And  laid  their  hand  on  their  mouth. 

The  nobles  held  their  peace, 

And  their  tongue  cleaved  to  the  roof  of  their  mouth. 
When  the  ear  heard  me,  then  it  blessed  me; 

And  when  the  eye  saw  me,  it  gave  witness  to  me ; 
Because  I  delivered  the  poor  that  cried, 

And  the  fatherless,  and  him  that  had  none  to  help 
him. 

The  blessing  of  him  that  was  ready  to  perish  came 
upon  me, 

And  I  caused  the  widow’s  heart  to  sing  for  joy. 

I  put  on  righteousness,  and  it  clothed  me: 

My  judgment  was  as  a  robe  and  a  diadem. 


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I  was  eyes  to  the  blind, 

And  feet  was  I  to  the  lame. 

I  was  a  father  to  the  poor, 

And  the  cause  which  I  knew  not  I  searched  out. 

And  I  brake  the  jaws  of  the  unrighteous, 

And  plucked  the  prey  out  of  his  teeth. 

Then  I  said,  “I  shall  die  in  my  nest, 

And  I  shall  multiply  my  days  as  the  sand.” 

My  root  was  spread  out  by  the  waters, 

And  the  dew  lay  all  night  upon  my  branch. 

My  glory  was  fresh  in  me, 

And  my  bow  was  renewed  in  my  hand. 

Unto  me  men  gave  ear,  and  waited, 

And  kept  silence  for  my  counsel. 

After  my  words  they  spake  not  again; 

And  my  speech  distilled  upon  them. 

And  they  waited  for  me  as  for  the  rain, 

And  they  opened  their  mouth  wide  as  for  the  latter 
rain. 

I  laughed  at  them,  when  they  had  no  confidence; 
And  the  light  of  my  countenance  they  cast  not  down. 
I  chose  out  their  way,  and  sat  as  chief, 

And  dwelt  as  a  king  in  the  army, 

As  one  that  comforteth  the  mourners. 

Job  Laments  His  Present  Condition 

But  now  they  that  are  younger  than  I  have  me  in 
derision, 

Whose  fathers  I  would  have  disdained  to  set  with 
the  dogs  of  my  flock. 

Yea,  the  strength  of  their  hands, 

Whereto  should  it  profit  me? 

Men  in  whom  firm  vigor  hath  perished. 


JOB 


341 


For  want  and  famine  they  are  gaunt; 

Fleeing  into  the  wilderness,  in  former  time  desolate 
and  waste; 

Who  cut  up  mallows  by  the  bushes, 

And  juniper  roots  for  their  meat. 

They  are  driven  forth  from  among  men; 

A  cry  is  raised  after  them  as  after  a  thief; 

They  must  dwell  in  the  cliffs  of  the  valleys, 

In  caves  of  the  earth,  and  in  the  rocks. 

Among  the  bushes  they  bray; 

Under  the  nettles  they  are  gathered  together. 

They  are  children  of  fools, 

Yea,  children  of  base  men; 

They  were  smitten  out  of  the  land. 

And  now  I  am  become  their  song, 

Yea,  I  am  their  byword. 

They  abhor  me,  they  keep  their  distance  from  me, 
And  spare  not  to  spit  in  my  face. 

Because  he  hath  loosed  my  cord  and  afflicted  me; 
And  they  have  let  loose  the  bridle  before  me. 

Upon  my  right  hand  rise  the  youth : 

They  push  away  my  feet, 

And  they  raise  up  against  me  the  ways  of  their 
destruction. 

They  mar  my  path, 

They  set  forward  my  calamity, 

Even  men  that  have  no  helper. 

As  through  a  wide  breach  they  come, 

Rolling  on  in  the  midst  of  the  ruin. 

Terrors  are  turned  upon  me; 

They  pursue  mine  honor  as  the  wind; 

And  my  welfare  is  passed  away  as  a  cloud. 

And  now  my  soul  pours  itself  out; 

The  days  of  affliction  have  taken  hold  of  me. 


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My  bones  are  pierced  in  me  in  the  night  season, 

And  my  sinews  take  no  rest. 

By  the  great  force  of  my  disease  is  my  raiment  dis¬ 
figured  ; 

It  bindeth  me  about  as  the  collar  of  my  coat. 

He  hath  cast  me  into  the  mire; 

And  I  am  become  like  dust  and  ashes. 

I  cry  unto  thee,  and  thou  dost  not  answer  me: 

I  stand  up,  and  thou  gazest  at  me. 

Thou  art  turned  to  be  cruel  to  me; 

With  the  might  of  thy  hand  thou  opposest  thyself 
against  me. 

Thou  liftest  me  up  to  the  wind; 

Thou  causest  me  to  ride  upon  it; 

And  dissolvest  me  into  the  storm. 

For  I  know  that  thou  wilt  bring  me  to  death. 

And  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  living. 

Howbeit  doth  not  one  stretch  out  the  hand  in  his 
fall? 

Or  in  his  calamity  will  not  one  cry  for  help? 

Did  not  I  weep  for  him  that  was  in  trouble? 

Was  not  my  soul  grieved  for  the  poor? 

When  I  looked  for  good,  then  evil  came: 

And  when  I  waited  for  light,  there  came  darkness. 

My  heart  is  troubled,  and  resteth  not; 

Days  of  affliction  are  come  upon  me. 

I  go  mourning  without  the  sun: 

I  stand  up  in  the  assembly,  crying  for  help. 

I  am  a  brother  to  jackals, 

And  a  companion  to  ostriches. 

My  skin  is  black  and  falleth  off  me, 

And  my  bones  are  burned  with  heat. 


JOB 


343 


My  harp  also  is  turned  to  mourning, 

And  my  pipe  into  the  voice  of  them  that  weep. 

Job  Protests  His  Innocence 

I  made  a  covenant  with  mine  eyes; 

How  then  could  I  even  look  upon  a  virgin? 

For  what  is  the  portion  from  God  above, 

And  the  heritage  from  the  Almighty  on  high? 

Is  it  not  destruction  to  the  unrighteous 
And  disaster  to  the  workers  of  iniquity? 

Doth  he  not  see  my  ways, 

And  number  all  my  steps? 

(Job  now  utters  before  God  his  solemn  Oath  of  Clearing.) 

If  I  have  walked  with  vanity, 

Or  if  my  foot  hath  hasted  to  deceit 
(Let  me  be  weighed  in  an  even  balance, 

That  God  may  know  mine  integrity) ; 

If  my  step  hath  turned  out  of  the  way, 

And  mine  heart  walked  after  mine  eyes, 

And  if  any  spot  hath  cleaved  to  my  hands: 

Then  let  me  sow,  and  let  another  eat; 

Yea,  let  the  produce  of  my  field  be  rooted  out. 

If  my  heart  hath  been  lured  by  a  woman, 

And  I  have  laid  wait  at  my  neighbor’s  door; 

Then  let  my  wife  grind  unto  another, 

And  let  others  bow  down  upon  her. 

For  this  is  a  heinous  crime; 

Yea,  it  is  an  iniquity  to  be  punished  by  the  judges: 
For  it  is  a  fire  that  consumeth  unto  destruction, 

And  would  root  out  all  mine  increase. 

If  I  did  despise  the  cause  of  my  manservant, 

Or  of  my  maidservant,  when  they  contended  with  me : 
What  then  shall  I  do  when  God  riseth  up? 


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And  when  he  visiteth,  what  shall  I  answer  him? 

Did  not  he  that  made  me  make  him? 

And  did  not  one  fashion  us  both? 

If  I  have  withheld  the  poor  from  their  desire, 

Or  have  caused  the  eyes  of  the  widow  to  fail; 

Or  have  eaten  my  morsel  alone, 

And  the  fatherless  hath  not  eaten  thereof 
(For  from  my  youth  he  was  brought  up  with  me  as 
with  a  father, 

And  I  have  guided  her  from  my  birth) ; 

If  I  have  seen  any  perish  for  want  of  clothing, 

Or  any  poor  without  covering; 

If  his  loins  have  not  blessed  me, 

And  if  he  were  not  warmed  with  the  fleece  of  my 
sheep ; 

If  I  have  lifted  up  my  hand  against  the  fatherless, 
When  I  saw  my  help  in  the  gate: 

Then  let  my  shoulder  fall  from  the  shoulder  blade, 
And  mine  arm  be  broken  from  the  bone. 

For  calamity  from  God  was  a  terror  to  me, 

And  by  reason  of  his  majesty  I  could  not  do  so. 

If  I  have  made  gold  my  hope, 

And  have  said  to  the  fine  gold,  “Thou  art  my  con¬ 
fidence”  ; 

If  I  rejoiced  because  my  wealth  was  great, 

And  because  my  hand  had  gotten  much; 

If  I  beheld  the  sun  when  it  shone, 

Or  the  moon  walking  in  brightness; 

And  my  heart  hath  been  secretly  enticed, 

And  my  mouth  hath  kissed  my  hand; 

This  too  were  an  iniquity  to  be  judged, 

For  I  should  have  denied  the  God  that  is  above. 


JOB 


345 


If  I  rejoiced  at  the  destruction  of  him  that  hated 
me, 

Or  lifted  up  myself  when  evil  found  him 
(Yea,  I  have  not  suffered  my  mouth  to  sin 
By  wishing  a  curse  to  his  soul) ; 

If  the  men  of  my  tent  have  not  said, 

“Who  can  find  one  that  hath  not  been  filled  with  his 
food?” 

The  stranger  did  not  lodge  in  the  street; 

But  I  opened  my  doors  to  the  traveler; 

If  like  Adam  I  covered  my  transgression, 

By  hiding  mine  iniquity  in  my  bosom, 

Because  I  dreaded  the  great  multitude, 

And  the  contempt  of  families  terrified  me, 

So  that  I  kept  silence,  and  went  not  out  of  the  door; 

If  my  land  cry  out  against  me, 

And  the  furrows  thereof  weep  together; 

If  I  have  eaten  the  fruits  thereof  without  money, 

Or  have  caused  the  owners  thereof  to  lose  their  life: 
Let  thistle  grow  instead  of  wheat, 

And  cockle  instead  of  barley. 

Job  Appeals  for  the  Divine  Indictment 
Oh  that  I  had  one  to  hear  me! 

(Lo,  here  is  my  signature,  let  the  Almighty  answer 
me !) 

And  that  I  had  the  indictment  which  mine  adver¬ 
sary  hath  written! 

Surely  I  would  carry  it  upon  my  shoulder; 

I  would  bind  it  unto  me  as  a  crown. 

I  would  declare  unto  him  the  number  of  my  steps; 
As  a  prince  would  I  present  it  unto  him.44 


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THE  SPEECHES  OF  ELIHU 

So  these  three  men  ceased  to  answer  Job,  because  he  was 
righteous  in  his  own  eyes.  Then  was  kindled  the  wrath  of 
Elihu  the  son  of  Barachel  the  Buzite,  of  the  family  of  Ram; 
against  Job  was  his  wrath  kindled,  because  he  justified  himself 
rather  than  God.  Also  against  his  three  friends  was  his  wrath 
kindled,  because  they  had  found  no  answer,  and  yet  had 
condemned  Job.  Now  Elihu  had  waited  to  speak  unto  Job, 
because  they  were  older  than  he.  And  when  Elihu  saw  that 
there  was  no  answer  in  the  mouth  of  these  three  men,  his  wrath 
was  kindled. 

ELIHU 

Elihu  is  the  critical,  self-confident  representative  of  a  younger  gen¬ 
eration.  He  became  angry  at  Job,  “because  he  justified  himself  rather 


“I  AM  YOUNG,  AND  YE  ARE  VERY  OLD” 
From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


JOB 


847 


than  God,”  and  at  Job's  three  friends,  “because  they  had  found  no  an¬ 
swer,  and  yet  had  condemned  Job.”  He  reproves,  recapitulates  what 
has  already  been  said,  and  shows  that  God  by  affliction  disciplines  hu¬ 
man  souls  and  draws  them  to  himself,  giving  them  “songs  in  the  night.” 
He  acts  also  as  the  forecaster  of  the  storm  in  which  God  is  approaching. 

Elihu  Decides  to  Express  His  Opinion 
I  am  young,  and  ye  are  very  old; 

Wherefore  I  was  afraid,  and  durst  not  show  you  mine 
opinion. 

I  said,  “Days  should  speak, 

And  multitude  of  years  should  teach  wisdom.” 

But  there  is  a  spirit  in  man, 

And  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty  giveth  them  un¬ 
derstanding. 

Great  men  are  not  always  wise, 

Neither  do  the  aged  understand  justice. 

Therefore  I  said,  “Hearken  to  me; 

I  also  will  show  mine  opinion.” 

Behold,  I  waited  for  your  words, 

I  gave  ear  to  your  reasons, 

Whilst  ye  searched  out  what  to  say. 

Yea,  I  attended  unto  you; 

And,  behold,  there  was  none  of  you  that  convinced  Job, 
Or  that  answered  his  words. 

Beware  lest  ye  say,  “We  have  found  wisdom”; 

God  may  vanquish  him,  not  man : 

For  he  hath  not  directed  his  words  against  me; 
Neither  will  I  answer  him  with  your  speeches. 

They  are  amazed.  They  answer  no  more. 

Words  have  failed  them. 

And  shall  I  wait,  because  they  speak  not, 

Because  they  stand  still,  and  answer  no  more? 

I  also  will  answer  my  part, 


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I  also  will  show  mine  opinion. 

For  I  am  full  of  words; 

The  spirit  within  me  constraineth  me. 

Behold,  my  breast  is  as  wine  which  hath  no  vent; 
Like  new  wine  skins  it  is  ready  to  burst. 

I  will  speak,  that  I  may  be  refreshed: 

I  will  open  my  lips  and  answer.  • 

Elihu  Refuses  to  Flatter  Job 

Let  me  not,  I  pray  you,  respect  any  man’s  person; 
Neither  will  I  give  flattering  titles  unto  any  man. 
For  I  know  not  to  give  flattering  titles; 

Else  would  my  Maker  soon  take  me  away. 
Howbeit,  Job,  I  pray  thee,  hear  my  speech, 

And  hearken  to  all  my  words. 

Behold  now,  I  have  opened  my  mouth; 

My  tongue  hath  spoken  in  my  mouth. 

My  words  shall  be  of  the  uprightness  of  my  heart; 
And  my  lips  shall  utter  knowledge  clearly. 

The  spirit  of  God  hath  made  me, 

And  the  breath  of  the  Almighty  hath  given  me  life. 

Elihu  Reproves  Job's  Self-confidence 

If  thou  canst  answer  me, 

Set  thy  words  in  order  before  me;  stand  up. 
Behold,  I  stand  toward  God  even  as  thou  dost: 

I  also  am  formed  out  of  the  clay. 

Behold,  my  terror  shall  not  make  thee  afraid, 
Neither  shall  my  hand  be  heavy  upon  thee. 

Surely  thou  hast  spoken  in  my  hearing, 

And  I  have  heard  the  voice  of  thy  words,  saying: 
“I  am  clean,  without  transgression; 

I  am  innocent,  neither  is  there  iniquity  in  me: 
Behold,  he  findeth  occasions  against  me, 

He  counteth  me  for  his  enemy; 


JOB 


349 


He  putteth  my  feet  in  the  stocks, 

He  marketh  all  my  paths.” 

Behold,  in  this  thou  art  not  just: 

I  will  answer  thee; 

For  God  is  greater  than  man. 

God  Speaks  to  Men  in  Dreams 

Why  dost  thou  strive  against  him,  saying, 

“He  answereth  none  of  my  words”? 

For  God  speaketh  once, 

Yea  twice,  yet  man  perceiveth  it  not. 

In  a  dream,  in  a  vision  of  the  night, 

When  deep  sleep  falleth  upon  men, 

In  slumberings  upon  the  bed; 

Then  he  openeth  the  ears  of  men, 

And  sealeth  their  instruction, 

That  he  may  withdraw  man  from  his  purpose, 

And  hide  pride  from  man. 

He  keepeth  back  his  soul  from  the  pit, 

And  his  life  from  perishing  by  the  sword. 

God  Speaks  to  Men  Through  Pain 

He  is  chastened  also  with  pain  upon  his  bed, 

And  with  perennial  strife  in  his  bones; 

So  that  his  life  abhorreth  bread, 

And  his  soul  dainty  food. 

His  flesh  is  consumed  away,  that  it  cannot  be  seen; 
And  his  bones  that  were  not  seen  stick  out. 

Yea,  his  soul  draweth  near  unto  the  pit, 

And  his  life  to  the  destroyers. 

God  Speaks  to  Men  Through  Heavenly 

Messengers 

If  there  be  a  messenger  with  him, 

An  interpreter,  one  among  a  thousand, 


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To  show  unto  man  what  is  right  for  him; 

And  if  he  is  gracious  unto  him,  and  saith, 

“Deliver  him  from  going  down  to  the  pit; 

I  have  found  a  ransom”; 

His  flesh  becometh  fresher  than  a  child’s; 

He  shall  return  to  the  days  of  his  youth. 

He  shall  pray  unto  God,  and  he  will  be  favorable  unto 
him : 

And  he  shall  see  his  face  with  joy: 

For  he  will  restore  unto  man  his  righteousness. 

He  looketh  upon  men,  and  if  any  say, 

“I  have  sinned,  and  perverted  that  which  was  right, 
And  it  profited  me  not”: 

He  will  deliver  his  soul  from  going  into  the  pit, 

And  his  life  shall  see  the  light. 

Lo,  all  these  things  worketh  God, 

Twice,  yea  thrice,  with  a  man, 

To  bring  back  his  soul  from  the  pit, 

To  be  enlightened  with  the  light  of  the  living. 

Mark  well,  O  Job,  hearken  unto  me; 

Hold  thy  peace,  and  I  will  speak. 

If  thou  hast  anything  to  say,  answer  me: 

Speak,  for  I  desire  to  justify  thee. 

If  not,  hearken  thou  unto  me: 

Hold  thy  peace,  and  I  will  teach  thee  wisdom. 

Elihu  Censures  Job  for  His  Irreverence 

Hear  my  words,  ye  wise  men; 

And  give  ear  unto  me,  ye  that  have  knowledge. 

For  the  ear  testeth  words, 

As  the  palate  tasteth  food. 

Let  us  choose  for  us  that  which  is  right: 

Let  us  know  among  ourselves  what  is  good. 

For  Job  hath  said,  “I  am  righteous, 

And  God  hath  taken  away  my  right: 


JOB 


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Notwithstanding  my  right  I  am  in  pain; 

My  wound  is  incurable,  though  I  am  without  trans¬ 
gression.” 

What  man  is  like  Job, 

Who  drinketh  up  scoffing  like  water, 

Who  goeth  in  company  with  the  workers  of  iniquity, 
And  walketh  with  wicked  men? 

For  he  hath  said,  “It  profiteth  a  man  nothing 
That  he  should  delight  himself  with  God.” 

Elihu  Vindicates  the  Justice  of  God 

Therefore  hearken  unto  me,  ye  men  of  understanding: 
Far  be  it  from  God,  that  he  should  do  wickedness, 

And  from  the  Almighty,  that  he  should  commit  iniquity. 
For  the  work  of  a  man  will  he  render  unto  him, 

And  cause  every  man  to  find  according  to  his  ways. 
Yea,  surely,  God  will  not  do  wickedly; 

Neither  will  the  Almighty  pervert  justice. 

Who  hath  given  him  a  charge  over  the  earth? 

Or  who  hath  disposed  the  whole  world? 

If  he  should  recall  his  spirit, 

And  gather  his  breath  to  himself, 

All  flesh  would  perish  together, 

And  man  would  return  unto  dust. 

Elihu  Emphasizes  the  Sovereignty  of  God 

If  now  thou  hast  understanding,  hear  this: 

Hearken  to  the  voice  of  my  words. 

Shall  even  one  that  hateth  justice  govern? 

And  wilt  thou  pronounce  him  wicked  that  is  righteous 
and  mighty? 

Him  that  saitli  to  a  king,  “Thou  scoundrel!” 

Or  to  nobles,  “Ye  wicked!” 

Who  respecteth  not  the  persons  of  princes, 

Nor  regardeth  the  rich  more  than  the  poor; 


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For  they  all  are  the  work  of  his  hands. 

In  a  moment  shall  they  die,  even  at  midnight; 

The  rich  are  smitten  and  pass  away, 

And  the  mighty  are  taken  away  without  hand. 

For  his  eyes  are  upon  the  ways  of  a  man, 

And  he  seeth  all  his  goings. 

There  is  no  darkness,  nor  shadow  of  death, 

Where  the  workers  of  iniquity  may  hide  themselves. 
No  time  doth  he  set  for  man, 

That  he  should  go  before  God  in  judgment. 

He  breaketh  in  pieces  mighty  men  without  investiga¬ 
tion, 

And  setteth  others  in  their  stead. 

Therefore  he  taketh  knowledge  of  their  works; 

And  he  overturneth  them  in  the  night,  so  that  they  are 
destroyed. 

He  striketh  them  as  wicked  men 
In  the  open  sight  of  others; 

Because  they  turned  aside  from  following  him, 

And  would  not  have  heed  to  any  of  his  ways : 

So  that  they  cause  the  cry  of  the  poor  to  come  unto 
him, 

And  he  heard  the  cry  of  the  afflicted. 

When  he  giveth  quietness,  who  then  can  condemn? 
And  when  he  hideth  his  face,  who  then  can  behold  him? 
Alike  whether  it  be  done  against  a  nation,  or  against 
a  man: 

That  the  godless  man  reign  not, 

That  there  be  none  to  ensnare  the  people. 

Elihu  Accuses  Job  of  Rebellion  Against  God 

For  hath  any  said  unto  God,  “I  have  borne  chastise¬ 
ment  ; 


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I  will  not  offend  any  more: 

That  which  I  see  not  teach  thou  me: 

If  I  have  done  iniquity,  I  will  do  it  no  more”? 

Shall  his  recompense  be  as  thou  wilt,  that  thou  refus- 
est  it? 

For  thou  must  choose,  and  not  I: 

Therefore  speak  what  thou  knowest. 

Men  of  understanding  will  say  unto  me, 

Yea,  every  wise  man  that  heareth  me: 

“Job  speaketh  without  knowledge, 

And  his  words  are  without  wisdom. 

Would  that  Job  were  tried  unto  the  end, 

Because  of  his  answering  like  wicked  men.” 

For  he  addeth  rebellion  unto  his  sin; 

He  clappeth  his  hands  among  us, 

And  multiplieth  his  words  against  God. 

Elihu  Accuses  Job  of  Presumption 
Thinkest  thou  this  to  be  just, 

Or  sayest  thou,  “My  righteousness  is  more  than 
God’s,” 

That  thou  sayest,  “What  advantage  is  mine? 

Wherein  am  I  better  off  than  if  I  had  sinned?” 

I  will  answer  thee, 

And  thy  companions  with  thee. 

Look  unto  the  heavens,  and  see; 

And  behold  the  clouds,  which  are  higher  than  thou. 

If  thou  hast  sinned,  what  effectest  thou  against  him? 
And  if  thy  transgressions  be  multiplied,  what  doest 
thou  unto  him? 

If  thou  be  righteous,  what  givest  thou  him? 

Or  what  receive th  he  of  thy  hand? 

Thy  wickedness  may  hurt  a  man  as  thou  art  ; 

And  thy  righteousness  may  profit  a  son  of  man. 


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By  reason  of  the  multitude  of  oppressions  men  cry  out; 
They  cry  for  help  by  reason  of  the  arm  of  the  mighty. 
But  none  saith,  “Where  is  God  my  Maker, 

Who  giveth  songs  in  the  night, 

Who  teacheth  us  more  than  the  beasts  of  the  earth, 
And  maketh  us  wiser  than  the  birds  of  the  heavens  ?” 
Then  they  cry,  but  none  giveth  answer, 

Because  of  their  impious  pride. 

Surely  God  will  not  hear  an  empty  cry; 

Neither  will  the  Almighty  regard  it. 

How  much  less  when  thou  sayest  thou  beholdest  him 
not, 

That  the  cause  is  before  him,  and  thou  waitest  for  him! 
But  now,  because  he  hath  not  visited  in  his  anger, 
Thou  sayest,  “He  careth  not  much  about  transgres- 

•  J  5 

sion  ; 

Therefore  Job  doth  open  his  mouth  in  vanity; 

He  multiplieth  words  without  knowledge. 

Elihu  Speaks  on  Behalf  of  God 

Suffer  me  a  little,  and  I  will  show  thee; 

For  I  have  yet  words  to  say  on  God’s  behalf. 

I  will  fetch  my  knowledge  from  afar, 

And  will  ascribe  righteousness  to  my  Maker. 

For  truly  my  words  are  not  false: 

One  that  is  perfect  in  knowledge  is  with  thee. 

Behold,  God  is  mighty,  and  despiseth  not  any: 

He  is  mighty  in  strength  and  wisdom. 

He  preserve th  not  the  life  of  the  wicked, 

But  giveth  to  the  afflicted  their  right. 

He  withdraweth  not  his  eyes  from  the  righteous: 

And  with  kings  upon  the  throne 

He  setteth  them  forever,  and  they  are  exalted. 

And  if  they  be  bound  in  fetters, 


JOB 


355 


And  be  caught  in  the  cords  of  affliction; 

Then  he  showeth  them  their  work, 

And  their  transgressions,  that  they  behave  themselves 
proudly. 

He  openeth  also  their  ear  to  instruction, 

And  commandeth  that  they  return  from  iniquity. 

If  they  hearken  and  serve  him, 

They  spend  their  days  in  prosperity, 

And  their  years  in  pleasures. 

But  if  they  hearken  not,  they  perish  by  the  sword, 
And  they  die  without  knowledge. 

But  they  that  are  godless  in  heart  heap  up  anger: 
They  cry  not  for  help  when  he  bindeth  them. 

They  die  in  youth, 

And  their  life  perisheth  among  the  unclean. 

He  delivereth  the  afflicted  by  their  affliction, 

And  openeth  their  ears  by  distress. 

Job’s  Rebelliousness  Is  Condemned 

But  thou  hast  been  lured  by  thy  freedom 
Into  a  broad  place,  where  there  is  no  straitness; 

And  by  that  which  is  set  on  thy  table  which  was  full 
of  fatness. 

Thou  hast  fulfilled  the  judgment  of  the  wicked: 
Judgment  and  justice  take  hold  on  thee. 

For  let  not  wrath  stir  thee  up  into  mockery ; 

Neither  let  the  greatness  of  the  ransom  turn  thee  aside. 
Will  thy  riches  avail,  without  distress, 

Or  all  the  exertions  of  thy  strength? 

Long  not  for  the  night, 

When  peoples  are  cut  off  in  their  place. 

Take  heed,  regard  not  iniquity; 

For  this  hast  thou  chosen  rather  than  affliction. 
Behold,  God  doeth  loftily  in  his  power: 


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Who  is  a  teacher  like  to  him? 

Who  hath  enjoined  him  his  way? 

Or  who  can  say,  44 Thou  hast  wrought  iniquity”? 

God  Is  Recognized  in  the  Approaching  Storm 

Remember  that  thou  magnify  his  work, 

Whereof  men  sing. 

All  men  have  looked  thereon: 

Man  beholdeth  it  afar  off. 

Behold,  God  is  great,  and  we  know  him  not: 

The  number  of  his  years  is  unsearchable. 

For  he  ga there th  up  the  drops  of  water, 

Which  distil  in  rain  from  his  vapor. 

Which  the  skies  pour  down 
And  distil  upon  man  abundantly. 

Also  can  any  understand  the  spreadings  of  the  clouds, 
The  thunderings  of  his  pavilion? 

Behold,  he  spreadeth  his  light  upon  it, 

And  he  covereth  the  bottom  of  the  sea. 

For  by  these  he  nourisheth  the  peoples: 

He  giveth  food  in  abundance. 

He  covereth  his  hands  with  the  lightning, 

And  commandeth  it  that  it  strike  the  mark. 

The  noise  thereof  telleth  concerning  him, 

The  cattle  also  concerning  the  storm  that  cometh  up. 

At  this  also  my  heart  trembleth, 

And  is  moved  out  of  its  place. 

Hearken  attentively  to  the  noise  of  his  voice, 

And  the  sound  that  goeth  out  of  his  mouth. 

He  directeth  it  under  the  whole  heaven, 

And  his  lightning  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

After  it  a  voice  roareth: 

He  thundereth  with  the  voice  of  his  excellency; 


JOB 


357 


And  he  will  not  stay  them  when  his  voice  is  heard. 

God  thundereth  marvelously  with  his  voice: 

Great  things  doeth  he, 

Which  we  cannot  comprehend. 

God  Has  Control  over  Nature 

For  he  saith  to  the  snow, 

“Be  thou  on  the  earth”; 

Likewise  to  the  small  shower, 

And  to  the  great  rain  of  his  strength. 

He  sealeth  up  the  hand  of  every  man, 

That  all  men  may  know  his  work. 

Then  the  beasts  go  into  dens, 

And  remain  in  their  places. 

Out  of  the  south  cometh  the  whirlwind, 

And  cold  out  of  the  north. 

By  the  breath  of  God  frost  is  given; 

And  the  breadth  of  the  waters  is  frozen. 

Also  he  ladeth  the  thick  cloud  with  moisture; 

He  scattereth  the  cloud  of  his  lightning: 

And  it  is  turned  round  about  by  his  counsels, 

That  they  may  do  whatsoever  he  commandeth  them 
Upon  the  face  of  the  world  in  the  earth. 

He  causeth  it  to  come,  whether  for  correction, 

Or  for  his  land,  or  for  mercy. 

Hearken  to  this,  O  Job; 

Stand  still,  and  consider  the  wondrous  works  of  God. 
Dost  thou  know  how  God  disposed  them, 

And  causeth  the  lightning  of  his  cloud  to  shine? 

Dost  thou  know  the  balancings  of  the  clouds, 

The  wondrous  works  of  him  who  is  perfect  in  knowledge? 
How  thy  garments  are  warm, 

When  he  quieteth  the  earth  by  the  south  wind? 


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Hast  thou  with  him  spread  out  the  sky, 

Which  is  strong,  and  as  a  molten  looking-glass? 

Teach  us  what  we  shall  say  unto  him; 

For  we  cannot  set  our  speech  in  order  by  reason  of 
darkness. 

Should  it  be  told  him  that  I  would  speak? 

Or  should  a  man  wish  that  he  be  swallowed  up? 

(As  the  rain  and  darkness  pass,  Elihu  notes  a  mighty  wind  that  is 
driving  the  clouds  before  it,  and  a  strange,  golden  splendor  descending 
from  the  north.) 

And  now  men  see  not  the  light,  though  it  is  bright  in 
the  clouds; 

But  a  wind  passeth,  and  cleanseth  them. 

Out  of  the  north  cometh  golden  splendor: 

God  hath  upon  him  terrible  majesty. 

Touching  the  Almighty,  we  cannot  find  him  out: 

He  is  excellent  in  power, 

And  in  judgment  and  in  plenteous  justice:  he  will  not 
afflict. 

Men  do  therefore  fear  him: 

He  regardeth  not  any  that  are  wise  of  heart. 

THE  ANSWER  OF  GOD 

“Then  God  answered  Job  out  of  the  whirlwind.”  The  bewildered  suf¬ 
ferer  had  asked  that  the  Lord  should  prove  himself  as  just,  as  open,  as 
friendly  as  a  human  being;  and  now,  through  the  wonders  of  creation, 
Job  is  shown  that  God  himself  is  greater  than  man’s  greatest  need.  In 
the  majesty,  the  evident  order,  and  the  joyousness  of  his  works  he  reveals 
his  own  nature. 


THE  VOICE  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Who  is  this  that  darkeneth  counsel 
By  words  without  knowledge? 

Gird  up  now  thy  loins  like  a  man; 

For  I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  answer  thou  me. 


JOB 


359 


Where  wast  thou  when  I  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
earth  ? 

Declare,  if  thou  hast  understanding. 

Who  laid  the  measures  thereof,  if  thou  knowest? 

Or  who  hath  stretched  the  line  upon  it? 

Whereupon  are  the  foundations  thereof  fastened? 

Or  who  laid  the  corner  stone  thereof, 

When  the  morning  stars  sang  together, 

And  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy? 

Who  shut  up  the  sea  with  doors, 

When  it  broke  forth  at  birth? 

When  I  made  the  cloud  the  garment  thereof. 

And  thick  darkness  a  swaddling  band  for  it. 


“THEN  GOD  ANSWERED  JOB  OUT  OF  THE  WHIRLWIND” 

From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


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And  broke  up  for  it  my  decreed  places, 

And  set  bars  and  doors, 

And  said,  “Hitherto  shalt  thou  come,  but  no  further; 
And  here  shall  thy  proud  waves  be  stayed”? 

Hast  thou  commanded  the  morning  since  thy  days, 
And  caused  the  dayspring  to  know  its  place; 

That  it  might  take  hold  of  the  skirts  of  the  earth, 
And  the  wicked  be  shaken  out  of  it? 

It  changeth  like  clay  under  the  seal, 

And  is  dyed  like  a  garment. 

Hast  thou  come  into  the  springs  of  the  ocean? 

Or  hast  thou  walked  in  the  depths  of  the  sea? 

Have  the  gates  of  death  been  opened  unto  thee? 

Or  hast  thou  seen  the  doors  of  the  shadow  of  death  ? 
Hast  thou  perceived  the  breadth  of  the  earth? 

Declare  it,  if  thou  knowest  it  all. 

Where  is  the  way  where  light  dwelleth? 

And  as  for  darkness,  where  is  the  place  thereof, 

That  thou  shouldst  take  it  to  the  bound  thereof, 

And  that  thou  shouldst  know  the  paths  to  the  house 
thereof? 

Knowest  thou  it,  because  thou  wast  then  born, 

Or  because  the  number  of  thy  days  is  great? 

Hast  thou  entered  into  the  treasuries  of  the  snow? 

Or  hast  thou  seen  the  treasuries  of  the  hail, 

Which  I  have  reserved  against  the  time  of  trouble, 
Against  the  day  of  battle  and  war? 

By  what  way  is  the  light  parted, 

And  the  east  wind  scattered  upon  the  earth? 

Who  hath  divided  a  channel  for  the  rain  flood, 

Or  a  way  for  the  lightning  of  thunder; 


JOB 


361 


“WHEN  THE  MORNING  STARS  SANG  TOGETHER” 

From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


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To  cause  it  to  rain  on  the  earth  where  no  man  is; 

On  the  wilderness,  wherein  there  is  no  man; 

To  satisfy  the  desolate  and  waste  ground, 

And  to  cause  the  bud  of  the  tender  herb  to  spring 
forth  ? 

Hath  the  rain  a  father? 

Or  who  hath  begotten  the  drops  of  dew? 

Who  was  mother  of  the  ice? 

And  the  hoary  frost  of  heaven,  who  hath  given  birth 
to  it? 

The  waters  are  become  like  stone, 

And  the  face  of  the  deep  is  frozen. 

Canst  thou  fasten  the  cluster  of  the  Pleiades, 

Or  loose  the  bonds  of  Orion? 

Canst  thou  bring  forth  the  Mazzaroth  in  their  season? 
Or  canst  thou  lead  the  Bear  with  her  sons? 

Knowest  thou  the  ordinances  of  heaven? 

Canst  thou  set  the  dominion  thereof  in  the  earth? 
Canst  thou  lift  up  thy  voice  to  the  clouds, 

That  abundance  of  waters  may  cover  thee? 

Canst  thou  send  forth  lightnings,  that  they  may  go, 
And  say  unto  thee,  “Here  we  are”? 

Who  hath  set  in  the  fleecy  clouds  wisdom, 

Or  given  to  the  meteor  insight? 

Who  numbereth  the  clouds  by  wisdom? 

Or  who  poureth  out  the  bottles  of  heaven. 

When  the  dust  groweth  into  hardness. 

And  the  clods  cleave  fast  together? 

Wilt  thou  hunt  the  prey  for  the  lioness. 

Or  fill  the  appetite  of  the  young  lions, 

When  they  couch  in  their  dens, 

And  abide  in  the  covert  to  lie  in  wait? 


JOB 


363 


Who  provideth  for  the  raven  his  food, 

When  his  young  ones  cry  unto  God, 

And  wander  for  lack  of  food? 

Who  hath  sent  out  the  wild  ass  free? 

Or  who  hath  loosed  the  bonds  of  the  wild  ass, 

Whose  home  I  have  made  the  wilderness, 

And  the  barren  land  his  dwelling  place? 

He  scorneth  the  multitudes  of  the  city; 

Neither  regardeth  he  the  shoutings  of  the  driver. 

The  range  of  the  mountains  is  his  pasture, 

And  he  searcheth  after  every  green  thing. 

Will  the  wild  ox  be  willing  to  serve  thee, 

Or  abide  by  thy  crib? 

Canst  thou  bind  the  wild  ox  with  his  band  in  the  fur¬ 
row  ? 

Or  will  he  harrow  the  valleys  after  thee? 

Wilt  thou  trust  him,  because  his  strength  is  great? 

Or  wilt  thou  leave  thy  labor  to  him? 

Wilt  thou  believe  in  him,  that  he  will  bring  home  thy 
seed, 

And  gather  it  into  thy  barn? 

The  wing  of  the  ostrich  beats  joyously, 

But  her  pinions  and  feathers  are  cruel, 

Which  leaveth  her  eggs  in  the  earth, 

And  warmeth  them  in  the  dust, 

And  forgetteth  that  the  foot  may  crush  them, 

Or  that  the  wild  beast  may  break  them. 

She  dealeth  harshly  with  her  young  ones,  as  though 
they  were  not  hers: 

Her  labor  is  in  vain,  she  is  without  fear, 

Because  God  hath  deprived  her  of  wisdom; 

Neither  hath  he  imparted  to  her  understanding. 

When  she  raise th  up  herself  on  high, 

She  scorneth  the  horse  and  his  rider. 


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Hast  thou  given  the  horse  might? 

Hast  thou  clothed  his  neck  with  thunder? 

Hast  thou  made  him  to  leap  as  a  grasshopper? 

The  glory  of  his  nostrils  is  terrible. 

He  paweth  in  the  valley,  and  rejoiceth  in  his  strength: 
He  goeth  on  to  meet  the  armed  men: 

He  mocketh  at  fear,  and  is  not  affrighted; 

Neither  turneth  he  back  from  the  sword. 

The  quiver  rattleth  against  him, 

The  glittering  spear  and  the  shield. 

He  swalloweth  the  ground  with  fierceness  and  rage; 
Neither  standeth  he  still  at  the  sound  of  the  trumpet. 
He  saith  among  the  trumpets,  “Aha!” 

And  he  scenteth  the  battle  afar  off, 

The  thunder  of  the  captains,  and  the  shouting. 

Doth  the  hawk  fly  by  thy  wisdom, 

And  stretch  her  wings  toward  the  south? 

Doth  the  eagle  mount  up  at  thy  command, 

And  make  her  nest  on  high? 

She  dwelleth  and  abideth  on  the  rock, 

Upon  the  crag  of  the  rock,  and  the  strong  place, 

From  thence  she  seeketh  the  prey; 

And  her  eyes  behold  afar  off. 

Her  young  ones  also  suck  up  the  blood: 

And  where  the  slain  are,  there  is  she. 

Shall  he  that  cavileth  contend  with  the  Almighty? 

He  that  reproveth  God,  let  him  answer  it. 

JOB 

Behold,  I  am  too  small:  what  can  I  answer  thee? 

I  will  lay  my  hand  upon  my  mouth. 

Once  have  I  spoken,  but  I  will  not  do  so  again; 

Yea,  twice,  but  I  will  proceed  no  further. 


JOB 


365 


THE  VOICE  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Gird  up  thy  loins  now  like  a  man: 

I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  declare  thou  unto  me. 

Wilt  thou  even  make  void  my  judgment? 

Wilt  thou  condemn  me,  that  thou  mayest  be  justified? 
Or  hast  thou  an  arm  like  God? 

And  canst  thou  thunder  with  a  voice  like  him? 

Deck  thyself  now  with  majesty  and  excellency; 

And  array  thyself  with  glory  and  beauty. 

Pour  out  the  overflowings  of  thine  anger; 

And  look  upon  every  one  that  is  proud,  and  abase  him. 
Look  on  every  one  that  is  proud,  and  bring  him  low; 
And  tread  down  the  wicked  where  they  stand. 

Hide  them  in  the  dust  together; 

Bind  up  their  faces  in  the  hidden  world. 

Then  will  I  also  confess  to  thee 

That  thine  own  right  hand  can  save  thee. 

Behold  now  behemoth,  which  I  made  with  thee: 

He  eateth  grass  as  an  ox. 

Lo  now,  his  strength  is  in  his  loins, 

And  his  force  is  in  the  muscles  of  his  belly. 

He  moveth  his  tail  like  a  cedar: 

The  sinews  of  his  thighs  are  knit  together. 

His  bones  are  as  strong  tubes  of  brass; 

His  ribs  are  like  bars  of  iron. 

He  is  the  chief  work  of  God: 

He  only  that  made  him  can  bring  near  his  sword. 
Surely  the  mountains  bring  him  forth  food, 

Where  all  the  beasts  of  the  field  do  play. 

He  lieth  under  the  lotus  trees, 

In  the  covert  of  the  reed,  and  the  fens. 

The  lotus  trees  cover  him  with  their  shadow: 

The  willows  of  the  brook  encircle  him  about. 


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Behold,  if  a  river  overflow  he  trembleth  not: 

He  trusteth  that  he  can  draw  up  Jordan  into  his  mouth. 
Can  any  take  him  when  he  is  on  the  watch, 

Or  pierce  through  his  nose  with  a  snare? 

Canst  thou  draw  out  leviathan45  with  a  hook? 

Or  press  down  his  tongue  with  a  cord? 

Canst  thou  put  a  cord  into  his  nose? 

Or  bore  his  jaw  through  with  a  hook? 

Will  he  make  many  supplications  unto  thee? 

Will  he  speak  soft  words  to  thee? 

Will  he  make  a  covenant  with  thee? 

Wilt  thou  take  him  for  a  servant  forever? 

Wilt  thou  play  with  him  as  with  a  bird, 

Or  wilt  thou  bind  him  for  thy  maidens? 

Will  bands  of  fishermen  bargain  over  him? 

Shall  they  part  him  among  the  merchants? 

Canst  thou  fill  his  skin  with  barbed  irons, 

Or  his  head  with  fish  spears? 

Lay  thy  hand  upon  him! 

Of  battle  thou  shalt  think  no  more! 

Behold,  the  hope  of  him  is  in  vain : 

Shall  not  one  be  cast  down  even  at  the  sight  of  him? 
None  is  so  fierce  that  he  dare  stir  him  up! 

Who  then  is  able  to  stand  before  me? 

Who  hath  ever  confronted  him  and  prospered? 
Whatsoever  is  under  the  whole  heavens,  such  a  one  is 
not! 

I  will  not  keep  silence  concerning  his  limbs, 

Nor  his  power,  nor  his  comely  proportion. 

Who  can  strip  off  his  outer  garment? 

Who  can  enter  within  his  double  coat-of-mail? 

Who  can  open  the  doors  of  his  face? 


JOB 


367 


His  teeth  are  terrible  round  about, 

His  scales  are  his  pride, 

Shut  up  together  as  with  a  close  seal. 

One  is  so  near  to  another 

That  no  air  can  come  between  them. 

They  are  joined  one  to  another, 

They  stick  together,  so  that  they  cannot  be  sundered. 
By  his  sneezings  a  light  doth  shine, 

And  his  eyes  are  like  the  eyelids  of  the  morning. 

Out  of  his  mouth  go  burning  torches. 

And  sparks  of  fire  leap  out. 

Out  of  his  nostrils  goeth  smoke, 

As  out  of  a  seething  pot  or  caldron. 

His  breath  kindleth  coals, 

And  a  flame  goeth  forth  from  his  mouth. 

In  his  neck  abideth  strength, 

And  dismay  danceth  before  him. 

The  flakes  of  his  flesh  are  joined  together: 

They  are  firm  upon  him,  they  cannot  be  moved. 

His  heart  is  firm  as  a  stone; 

Yea,  as  hard  as  a  piece  of  the  nether  millstone. 

When  he  raiseth  himself  up  the  mighty  are  afraid: 

By  reason  of  consternation  they  are  beside  themselves. 
If  one  assail  him  with  the  sword,  it  cannot  hold; 

Not  the  spear,  nor  the  dart,  nor  the  pointed  shaft. 

He  esteemeth  iron  as  straw, 

And  brass  as  rotten  wood. 

The  arrow  cannot  make  him  flee; 

Sling  stones  are  turned  with  him  into  stubble; 

Darts  are  counted  as  stubble: 

He  laugheth  at  the  shaking  of  a  spear. 

His  underparts  are  like  sharp  potsherds: 

He  spreadeth  as  it  were  a  threshing-drag  upon  the  mire. 


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He  maketh  the  deep  to  boil  like  a  pot: 

He  maketh  the  sea  like  a  pot  of  ointment. 

He  maketh  a  path  to  shine  after  him: 

One  would  think  the  deep  to  be  hoary. 

Upon  earth  there  is  not  his  like, 

Who  is  made  without  fear. 

He  beholdeth  all  high  things; 

He  is  king  over  all  the  children  of  pride. 

JOB 

The  Almighty  has  at  last  drawn  near.  Job’s  bold  confidence  changes 
to  awed  humility.  His  physical  suffering  is  still  as  great  as  ever;  but 
the  reality  and  nearness  of  God  makes  it  tolerable.  He  does  not  repent 
of  sin,  for  he  still  believes  his  life  is  blameless;  but  a  new  and  vivid  sense 
of  the  divine  greatness  and  nearness  makes  him  repent  of  the  defiant 
attitude  he  had  taken  toward  God. 


“I  HAD  HEARD  OF  THEE,  BUT  NOW  MINE  EYE  SEETH” 

From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


JOB 


369 


“AND  MY  SERVANT  JOB  SHALL  PRAY  FOR  YOU” 

From  a  drawing  by  lilake 


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I  know  that  thou  canst  do  everything, 

And  that  no  purpose  of  thine  can  be  cut  off.40 

“Who  is  he  that  hideth  counsel  without  knowledge?” 

I  have  uttered  that  which  I  understood  not; 

Things  too  wonderful  for  me,  which  I  knew  not. 
Hear,  I  beseech  thee,  and  I  will  speak; 

I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  declare  thou  unto  me. 

I  had  heard  of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear, 

But  now  mine  eye  seeth  thee: 

Therefore  I  loathe  my  words 
And  repent  in  dust  and  ashes. 


“EVERY  MAN  ALSO  GAVE  HIM  A  PIECE  OF  MONEY” 

From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


JOB 


371 


THE  EPILOGUE 

The  Lord  Condemns  Job’s  Friends 

And  it  was  so,  that  after  the  Lord  had  spoken  these  words 
unto  Job,  the  Lord  said  to  Eliphaz  the  Temanite:  “My  wrath 
is  kindled  against  thee,  and  against  thy  two  friends;  for  ye 
have  not  spoken  of  me  the  thing  that  is  right,  as  my  servant 
Job  hath.  Therefore,  take  to  you  now  seven  bullocks  and 
seven  rams,  and  go  to  my  servant  Job,  and  offer  up  for  your¬ 
selves  a  burnt  offering;  and  my  servant  Job  shall  pray  for 
you:  for  him  will  I  accept,  lest  I  deal  with  you  after  your 
folly,  in  that  ye  have  not  spoken  of  me  the  thing  which  is 
right,  like  my  servant  Job.”47 


“SO  TIIE  LORD 


BLESSED  THE  LATTER  END  OF  JOB” 
From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


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“THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  JOB” 
From  a  drawing  by  Blake 


So  Eliphaz  the  Temanite  and  Bildad  the  Shuhite  and 
Zophar  the  Naamathite  went,  and  did  according  as  the  Lord 
commanded  them.  The  Lord  also  accepted  Job. 

Job’s  Prosperity  Is  Restored 

And  the  Lord  turned  the  captivity  of  Job,  when  he  prayed 
for  his  friends:  also  the  Lord  gave  Job  twice  as  much  as  he 
had  before. 

Then  came  there  to  him  all  his  brethren,  and  all  his  sisters, 
and  all  they  that  had  been  of  his  acquaintance  before,  and  did 
eat  bread  with  him  in  his  house;  and  they  bemoaned  him,  and 
comforted  him  over  all  the  evil  that  the  Lord  had  brought 
upon  him:  every  man  also  gave  him  a  piece  of  money,  and 
every  one  an  earring  of  gold. 


JOB 


373 


So  the  Lord  blessed  the  latter  end  of  Job  more  than  his 
beginning:  for  he  had  fourteen  thousand  sheep,  and  six 
thousand  camels,  and  a  thousand  yoke  of  oxen,  and  a  thousand 
she-asses.  He  had  also  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  And 
he  called  the  name  of  the  first,  Jemimali  [Dove];  and  the 
name  of  the  second,  Keziah  [Fragrant  as  Cinnamon];  and 
the  name  of  the  third,  Keren -happuch  [Beautifier].  And  in  all 
the  land  there  were  no  women  found  so  fair  as  the  daughters 
of  Job:  and  their  father  gave  them  inheritance  among  their 
brethren. 

After  this  lived  Job  a  hundred  and  forty  years,  and  saw 
his  sons,  and  his  sons’  sons,  even  four  generations.  So  Job 
died,  being  old  and  full  of  days. 


■ 


, 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


THE  LIVING  WISDOM 


The  Scroll  is  the  venerable  symbol  of  wisdom,  the  ancient  book, 
the  record  of  a  revelation  from  the  prophet,  from  the  gods,  from  God  him¬ 
self.  It  had  to  be  unrolled  to  be  read.  The  reading  of  it  was  a  progressive 
revelation  of  the  truth  it  contained.  At  every  moment  of  the  reading  the 
future  was  hidden,  the  past  rolled  up,  done  with:  only  that  portion  in 
the  process  of  being  read  was  evident  to  the  eye.  The  scroll,  then,  was  like 
life  itself — the  past  obscured,  the  future  unknown,  only  the  present  in 
immediate  possession.  The  scroll  is  thus  a  peculiarly  appropriate  symbol 
of  The  Living  Wisdom — the  enduring  wisdom,  past,  present,  and  future. 


375 


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THE  DELPHIC  SIBYL 

From  a  fresco  by  Michelangelo 

This  is  one  of  the  loveliest  and  most  inspired  of  all  those  multitudinous  creations  of 
the  great  Florentine  that  adorn  the  Sistine  Chapel  in  Rome.  The  Delphic  Sibyl,  with  five 
or  six  others,  is  placed  along  the  cornice  of  the  room  alternating  with  the  Biblical  prophets. 
They  are  given  this  position  of  honor  because  throughout  the  Middle  Ages  the  Church  placed 
the  authority  of  these  creatures  of  classic  mythology  almost  on  a  par  with  that  of  the  Hebrew 
prophet.  They  represent  the  spirit  of  prophecy;  and  each  is  given  a  name  suggestive  of  some 
place  in  the  ancient  world  where  the  divine  oracles  were  wont  to  be  consulted.  The  Delphic 
Sibyl  of  course  stands  for  Delphi,  the  most  famous  oracle  of  antiquity. 

The  goddess  is  here  seated  upon  a  marble  throne,  unrolling  the  scroll  of  the  future. 
Having  lighted  upon  a  significant  passage,  she  raises  her  eyes  and  gazes  into  the  distance, 
quite  lost  in  the  contemplation  of  some  vast  pageant  of  future  history  that  unrolls  before 
her  imagination. 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


377 


THE  GREAT  MESSAGES  OF  THE  PROPHETS 


1.  The  Development  of  the  Prophets.  In  the  very  early  time 
the  idea  of  prophecy  was  such  as  prevails  among  all  primitive  peoples. 
Prophecy  was  considered  a  kind  of  magic  power  to  see  the  future,  to 
predict  success  or  failure  in  war,  to  find  lost  articles,  and  the  like.  This 
was  the  idea  of  Saul’s  servant  when  he  suggested  that  Samuel  might  lie!]) 
them  find  the  lost  asses.  It  was  the  idea  which  produced  the  bands  of 
prophets  who  excited  themselves  by  music  and  other  means  so  that  they 
might  speak  while  in  a  state  of  ecstasy.  This  low  conception  of  prophetic 
powers  still  exists;  and  there  is  yet  ignorance  enough  to  support  whole 
droves  of  fortune-tellers,  clairvoyants,  and  magic  healers.  But  even  in 
Samuel’s  day  there  was  also  a  better  conception,  which  was  mostly  due 
to  him;  for  people  came  to  know  him  as  one  who  knew  God  and  was 
therefore  wiser  than  those  who  knew  him  not.  The  lower  grade  of  prophets 
developed  afterwards  into  the  professional  class,  the  court  prophets,  who 
were  always  ready  to  give  the  king  a  message  from  the  supernatural,  and 
to  give  such  a  message  as  they  thought  he  would  like.  But  there  were 
others,  like  Elijah  and  Micaiali,  who  had  a  real  moral  insight  and  pur¬ 
pose,  and  told  the  kings  and  the  people,  as  they  believed,  the  very  truth 
revealed  to  them  by  God. 

The  great  prophets  of  the  eighth  and  seventh  centuries  were  of  this 
nobler  class.  They  were  men  who  had  great  convictions  of  truth  and 
duty,  which  they  held  as  the  direct  word  of  the  Lord;  and  they  not  only 
spoke  their  message,  but,  fortunately  for  the  world,  they  wrote  their 
prophecies,  in  order  that  the  truth  of  them  might  be  tested  by  future  events. 

2.  Bethel  was  in  the  days  of  Amos  a  royal  sanctuary  of  great 
wealth  and  splendor,  where  Jehovah  was  worshiped  under  the  patronage 
of  the  kings  of  Israel.  The  first  Jeroboam  had  set  up  here  a  golden  calf,  and 
later  kings,  especially  the  reigning  monarch,  Jeroboam  II,  had  enriched 
the  place  with  the  spoils  of  victory.  The  people  revered  Bethel  as  the 
scene  of  Jacob’s  vision  in  patriarchal  times.  For  the  rustic  Amos  thus  to 
interrupt  this  lordly  and  popular  worship  required  courage  of  the  highest 
order. 


3.  The  Home  of  Hosea,  traditionally,  was  at  Belemon,  near  Dothan, 
at  the  edge  of  the  Plain  of  Esdraelon.  In  any  case,  Ilosea,  because  of  his 
many  references  to  the  beauty  of  nature,  seems  to  have  been  a  native  of 
the  country,  rather  than  of  the  city.  ‘'His  sacraments  are  the  open  air, 
the  mountain  breeze,  the  vine,  the  lilies,  the  pines.” 


4.  The  Call  of  Isaiaii.  “The  scene  was  the  threshold  of  the 
temple,  where  Isaiah  had  gone  to  worship.  In  front  of  him  stood  the 
door  leading  to  the  inner  shrine,  with  the  Ark  as  the  visible  witness  to 
the  Divine,  and  near  it  the  altar  of  sacrifice  and  the  brazen  serpent,  the 


378 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


emblem  of  heavenly  help  and  healing.  The  choirs  pealed  forth  their 
choruses,  and  the  smoke  of  the  sacrifice  ascended  to  heaven,  when, 
lo!  as  Isaiah  prayed,  the  outward  symbolism  vanished,  and  the  eter¬ 
nal  realities  themselves  were  unveiled  before  his  spiritual  imagination. 
Through  the  open  door  he  now  saw  Jehovah  in  person  seated  upon  a 
throne,  ‘high  and  lifted  up,’  beyond  all  contact  with  human  imperfection 
and  sin.  The  skirts  of  his  flowing  robe  filled  the  temple,  carrying  the  touch 
of  his  influence  into  every  niche  and  corner  of  the  building,  while  round 
the  throne  were  shining  companies  of  seraphim  floating  before  God’s 
presence  and  singing  in  responsive  chorus.” — Alexander  R.  Gordon 

5.  Live  Coal.  The  prophet  here  uses  a  symbol  drawn  from  common 
life.  In  the  cooking  of  food, stones  were  made  red  hot  at  the  central  hearth, 
and  these  were  then  applied  to  the  various  articles  of  food  or  the  receptacles 
containing  them.  The  image,  thus,  naturally  suggests  the  conveyance  of 
spiritual  fire  from  the  altar  to  Isaiah.  Fire  burns,  and  so  purifies:  when 
the  young  man’s  lips  were  touched,  his  sin  was  not  merely  forgiven,  but 
burned  out  of  him;  and  he  stood  before  God  pure. 

6.  Moresheth  of  Gath,  the  home  of  the  prophet  Micah,  was 
situated  upon  a  terrace  of  the  low  hills  which  lie  between  the  hill  country 
of  Judah  and  the  Philistine  plain.  It  is  twenty-two  miles  from  the  sea. 
“The  olive  groves  are  fine.  There  is  herbage  for  cattle.  Bees  murmur 
everywhere,  larks  are  singing,  and  you  are  seldom  beyond  sound  of  the 
human  voice — shepherds  and  plowmen  calling  to  each  other  across  the 
glens.” 

7.  The  New  Covenant.  This  remarkable  passage  is  not  merely  of 
deep  personal  value  to  the  devout  reader  of  Scripture;  it  also  marks  a 
transition  point  in  the  Hebrew  religion.  Under  the  judges  and  the  kings, 
the  religion  of  Israel  was  national:  the  individual  householder  served  the 
Lord  with  his  king  and  the  rest  of  the  nation,  and  shared  God’s  favor  or 
his  displeasure,  as  manifested  in  the  peace  or  the  distress  of  the  land. 
But  in  Jeremiah’s  day,  with  the  Israelites  beginning  to  be  scattered  into 
many  lands,  this  old  theory  of  a  national  covenant  religion  could  no  longer 
be  held.  Religion,  to  be  preserved  at  all,  must  be  individual,  a  matter 
between  each  man  and  his  God.  In  this  great  passage  the  prophet  makes 
this  clear. 

8.  Ezekiel’s  Home  was  in  Babylonia,  in  the  great  alluvial  plain  of  the 
lower  Euphrates,  through  which  ran  many  irrigating  canals.  One  of  these, 
the  Chebar,  or  “grand  canal,”  ran  east  of  the  old  city  of  Nippur;  and  on 
its  bank  lived  this  pastor  prophet  of  the  Jewish  colony. 

9.  The  Material  of  Ezekiel’s  Vision.  George  Adam  Smith 
thinks  Ezekiel’s  vision  of  the  appearance  of  God  was  suggested  by  a 
thunderstorm  in  Mesopotamia.  “The  languor  of  the  flat  country,  the 
stagnancy  and  sultriness  of  the  air,  is  suddenly  invaded  by  southerly  winds 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


379 


of  tremendous  force,  laden  with  clouds  of  fine  sand,  which  render  the  air 
so  dense  as  to  be  suffocating,  and  ‘produce  a  lurid  red  haze  intolerable 
to  the  eyes.’  Thunderstorms  are  frequent,  but  the  winds  are  the  most 
tremendous.  In  such  an  atmosphere  we  may  perhaps  discover  the  original 
shapes  and  sounds  of  Ezekiel’s  turbulent  visions,— the  fiery  wheels;  the 
great  cloud  with  a  fire  enfolding  itself;  the  color  of  amber,  with  sapphire, 
or  lapis  lazuli,  breaking  through;  the  sound  of  a  great  rushing.” 

10.  Full  of  Eyes.  It  is  characteristic  of  the  Oriental  mode  of 
description  that  the  figures  described  cannot  be  visioned  in  literal  fashion. 
The  details  of  the  description  are  symbolic,  like  those  of  a  so-called  “fu¬ 
turistic”  painting.  Each  one  is  a  symbol,  suggesting  an  idea  rather  than 
portraying  a  fact.  We  cannot  see  the  marvelous  objects  thus  described, 
but  we  can  feel  the  effect  intended.  This  touch,  “full  of  eyes,”  means 
simply  that  the  rolling  objects  were  full  of  alertness  and  vision. 

11.  Digging  Through.  Unbaked  brick,  “adobe,”  being  the  uni¬ 
versal  building  material  in  Babylonia,  it  was  easy  to  dig  through  a  thick 
wall,  and  equally  easy  to  build  up  the  hole  again. 

12.  The  King’s  Fate.  By  this  curious  object  lesson  or  dramatization, 
Ezekiel  presented  to  his  fellow-exiles  the  tragic  close  of  the  kingdom  of 
Judah.  When  Jerusalem  could  no  longer  be  defended,  Zedekiah,  the 
last  king,  escaped  by  night  with  his  retainers;  he  was  captured  and  brought 
before  Nebuchadnezzar;  he  saw  his  sons  slain;  and  he  then  was  blinded 
and  carried  as  a  captive  to  Babylon. 

13.  Sons  of  Zadok,  that  is,  the  true  and  lawful  inheritors  of  the 
priestly  office.  In  David’s  day,  Abiathar  was  the  high  priest;  but  he 
afterwards  proved  disloyal  to  Solomon,  and  Zadok  was  made  priest  in  his 
stead.  Thus  Zadok,  whose  descent  was  traced  back  to  Levi,  became  an¬ 
cestor  of  the  priestly  line  at  Jerusalem.  In  the  Maccabean  times  the 
priestly  party,  opponents  of  the  Pharisees,  called  themselves  the  Sons  of 
Zadok,  or  the  Zadokites,  which  became  in  Greek  the  Sadducees. 

14.  Clean  and  Unclean.  Here  we  see  Ezekiel  laying  emphasis  on 
the  old  Hebrew  form  of  “taboo,”  so  common  to  all  primitive  peoples,  by 
which  some  things  are  made  “clean,”  approachable  or  edible,  and  others 
“unclean,”  or  prohibited.  In  exile  the  Jews  might  easily  have  lost  this, 
had  not  the  old  Mosaic  lessons  been  thus  renewed,  to  be  later  reinforced 
in  the  work  of  Nehemiah  and  Ezra.  To  this  day  the  careful  Jews  feel  as 
did  Ezra.  A  Jew  thus  remonstrated  with  a  clergyman,  “Why  do  you,  at 
a  funeral,  bring  the  body  into  the  church?  You  ought  not  to  do  so.  A 
church  is  a  clean  place,  and  a  dead  body  is  unclean.”  In  that  remonstrance 
more  than  thirty  centuries  of  inherited  instinct  found  expression. 

15.  The  Crime  of  Acquiescence.  Obadiah’s  stern  rebuke  of  these 
Edomites,  not  for  any  overt  attack  on  hapless  Israel  but  simply  for  looking 


380 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


with  satisfaction  on  the  Jews’  misfortune,  recalls  the  ethical  judgment 
pronounced  by  Hawthorne  on  Miriam  in  The  Marble  Faun.  By  one  glance 
of  exultation,  as  her  obnoxious  enemy  is  hurled  to  his  death,  she  becomes 
a  partner  in  the  crime  and  must  share  the  penalty. 

16.  Symbolism  of  Numbers.  Orientals  are  less  exact  and  more 
imaginative  than  those  of  Western  lands.  Where  we  use  round  numbers 
for  convenience,  they  frequently  use  symbolic  numbers  to  convey  an  as¬ 
sociation.  Thus,  seven  is  associated  with  God  and  holiness,  ten  with  heathen 
domination,  twelve  with  God’s  people  Israel,  forty  with  a  full  generation 
or  a  long  reign.  Seventy  years,  therefore,  suggests  to  the  prophet  God’s 
time  of  chastisement  for  Jerusalem  by  the  hand  of  the  Gentile  conquerors. 

17.  Locusts.  These  names  of  insects  probably  refer  to  the  locust  in 
its  several  stages  of  development — first  as  a  grub,  then  as  a  young  locust 
able  to  march  by  hops  in  the  mighty  locust  army,  and  finally  as  the 
full-grown  locust  with  wings.  The  voracity  of  these  insects  is  terrible,  as 
is  the  resistless  might  of  their  advancing  host.  They  first  devour  grass  and 
leaves,  fruit  and  foliage, — everything  that  is  green  and  juicy.  They 
then  attack  the  tender  twigs  and  young  branches  of  trees,  and  then  the 
hard  bark  of  the  trunks.  George  Adam  Smith,  after  witnessing  a  locust 
invasion  in  Palestine,  said:  “For  eighty  or  ninety  miles  they  devoured 
every  green  herb  and  every  blade  of  grass.  The  gardens  outside  Jaffa 
are  now  completely  stripped,  and  look  like  a  birch  tree  forest  in  winter.” 
Of  their  onset  Dr.  W.  M.  Thomson  says:  “When  the  head  of  the  mighty 
column  came  in  contact  with  the  palace  of  the  Emeer,  they  did  not  take 
the  trouble  to  wheel  round  the  corners,  but  climbed  the  wall  like  men 
of  war,  and  marched  over  the  top  of  it.  So,  when  they  reached  the  house  of 
Dr.  Van  Dyck,  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  to  prevent  it,  a  living  stream  rolled 
right  over  the  roof.”  He  asserts  that  every  touch  in  Joel’s  picture  is  true 
to  the  life. 

SOCIAL  IDEALS  OF  THE  HEBREWS 

18.  Drunkenness  a  Sin  of  Luxury.  In  the  Bible,  drunkenness 
is  condemned  as  a  sin  of  luxury,  wealth,  and  power.  Its  effect  on  rulers, 
and  so  on  the  safety  of  the  state,  is  often  referred  to.  Warnings  are  given, 
by  the  teachers  of  wisdom,  against  over-indulgence  in  wine  and  strong  drink. 
But  no  such  general  concern  is  shown  for  public  temperance  as  we  should 
expect  any  moral  leader  to  show  today.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  wine 
and  “strong  drink,”  or  fermented  fruit  juice,  when  strong  enough  to 
intoxicate  easily,  were  so  expensive  as  to  be  out  of  reach  of  the  common 
people.  Only  the  rich,  therefore,  were  likely  ever  to  drink  to  excess.  It 
was  the  invention,  in  the  Middle  Ages,  of  the  process  of  distillation  that 
made  strong  liquor  cheap,  and  so  gave  the  world  its  modern  temperance 
problem. 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


381 


19.  “The  Fat  Valley.”  The  reference  is  to  a  broad  and  fertile 
valley  extending  northwestward  from  Shechem,  between  the  mountains 
of  Ebal  and  Gerizim,  to  the  seacoast  plain.  Within  this  valley,  on  an 
isolated  hill,  stood  the  now  rich  and  luxurious  city  of  Samaria,  the  “crown 
of  pride”  of  the  dissolute  rulers  of  the  kingdom  of  Israel. 

20.  The  Queen  of  Heaven  was  Ishtar,  or  Astarte  (in  Hebrew, 
Aslitoreth),  whose  symbol  in  the  heavens  was  the  moon.  The  Jewish 
women  inclined  to  idolatry  carried  this  worship  with  them  when  they  fled 
to  Egypt  after  the  fall  of  Jerusalem. 

21.  Tammuz,  the  god  for  whom  the  Jewish  women  wept  in  the  days 
of  Ezekiel,  was  in  Babylonian  mythology  the  husband  or  son  of  Ishtar,  or 
Aslitoreth,  the  goddess  of  fertility.  After  the  summer  vegetation  decays, 
Tammuz,  according  to  legend,  retires  to  the  underworld,  whither  he  is 
followed  by  the  disconsolate  Ishtar,  who  would  bring  him  back  to  the 
world  that  he  has  left  desolate.  It  is  one  of  the  numerous  myths  or  old 
folk  stories  relating  to  the  sun.  The  weeping  for  Tammuz,  which  was 
common  throughout  the  north-Semitic  world,  occurred  in  September. 
This  myth  was  carried  to  Greece  and  Rome;  Tammuz  becoming  Adonis, 
and  Ishtar,  Venus.  Shakespeare  retells  the  story  in  his  Venus  and  Adonis , 
and  Milton  refers  to  it  as  follows: 

“Thammuz  came  next  behind, 

Whose  annual  wound  in  Lebanon  allured 
The  Syrian  damsels  to  lament  his  fate 
In  amorous  ditties  all  a  summer’s  day, 

While  smooth  Adonis  from  his  native  rock 
Ran  purple  to  the  sea,  supposed  with  blood 
Of  Thammuz  yearly  wounded.” 

22.  “The  Calf  of  Samaria,”  set  up  as  a  representative  of  Jehovah 
at  the  ancient  shrine  of  Bethel  by  Jeroboam  I,  first  king  of  the  kingdom  of 
Israel  which  revolted  from  Rehoboam. 

23.  The  Inviolability  of  Zion.  After  the  remarkable  deliverance 
of  Jerusalem  from  Sennacherib  in  Hezekiah’s  day,  a  few  years  after  the 
tragic  siege  and  capture  of  Samaria,  the  doctrine  seems  to  have  gained 
currency  in  Jerusalem  that  the  Lord  had  promised  that  the  holy  city  should 
never  be  taken.  In  later  years  this  grew  to  be  so  fixed  a  belief  that  the 
rulers  laughed  at  the  prophets’  warnings,  and  went  on  with  their  sinning. 
It  is  against  this  false  hope  that  Jeremiah  delivers  this  prophecy. 

24.  Preparing  the  Way.  Roads  in  Palestine  are  usually  no  more 
than  stony  trails,  rough,  and  in  many  places  dangerous.  In  recent  years 
some  good  carriage  roads  have  been  built;  but  from  ancient  days  until 
now  it  has  been  the  rule  that  when  a  king  or  eminent  visitor  is  to  make  a 
journey,  the  command  goes  forth  to  prepare  his  way.  The  population 
then  turns  out  to  repair  and  rebuild  the  road  on  which  he  is  to  travel. 


382 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


25.  The  Messianic  Idea.  The  term  “Messiah,”  or  “Anointed,” 
was  primarily  applied  to  any  one  anointed  with  the  holy  oil.  He  was  then 
“the  Lord’s  Anointed.”  In  this  sense  David  spoke  of  King  Saul  as  the 
Lord’s  Messiah,  whom  therefore  he  must  not  kill.  Aaron,  as  high  priest, 
was  called  the  Lord's  Messiah;  and  in  Leviticus  the  same  designation  re¬ 
fers  to  any  future  high  priest.  Cyrus,  who  released  exiled  Israel  from 
captivity  and  gave  them  leave  to  return  to  their  own  land,  is  referred  to  as 
the  Lord’s  Messiah.  After  the  establishment  of  David’s  line  as  kings  of 
Judah,  the  title  became  in  a  special  sense  the  designation  of  David  and  those 
who  should  follow  him  as  inheritors  of  his  throne  and  of  God’s  promises  to 
him.  Like  the  other  ideals  of  a  perfect  state,  the  Messianic  ideal  of  the 
prophets  and  the  New  Testament  was  developed. 

26.  The  Day  of  the  Lord.  When  the  prophets  foresaw  Israel’s 
future  glory,  they  conceived  of  some  crisis  or  juncture  that  should  inter¬ 
vene  between  that  and  their  present  misery.  Gradually  there  grew  up  the 
belief  that  Jehovah  would  come  to  judge  the  hostile  nations,  and  also  his 
own  people,  before  that  happy  era  could  arrive.  So  the  phrase,  “the  Day 
of  the  Lord,”  came  to  mean  not  merely  a  day,  but  a  whole  period  of  judg¬ 
ment  and  readjustment  before  the  glorious  future  should  be  ushered  in. 

PATRIOTIC  POETRY 

27.  The  Tribal  Blessings,  which  may  have  been  used  as  popular 
folk  songs,  are  interesting  in  themselves  as  shrewd  portrayals  of  individual 
human  traits.  Dan  is  the  serpent  that  lies  in  wait;  Benjamin,  the  ravening 
wolf;  Naphtali,  the  freedom-loving  hind;  Issachar,  the  stolid,  contented 
ass;  Judah,  the  kingly  lion.  Reuben  is  “unstable  as  water”;  Zebulun  at 
Acre,  “the  haven  of  the  sea,”  “rejoices  in  his  going  out”  for  adventure 
and  commerce;  but  Issachar  abides  “in  his  tents.” 

28.  Hadadrimmon,  names  of  two  Syrian  gods.  The  reference 
seems  to  be  to  a  religious  custom  involving  a  mourning  rite,  like  the  weep¬ 
ing  for  Tammuz  referred  to  by  Ezekiel. 

29.  Dragons.  The  word  translated  “dragon”  in  the  Bible,  where  it 
refers  to  a  real  animal,  has  reference  to  the  jackal,  or,  occasionally,  the  wolf. 
The  word  signifies  “a  howler.”  Metaphorically  it  refers  to  a  mythical 
sea  monster.  There  have  been  beliefs  in  such  a  creature  in  all  lands. 
Apollo  slew  the  Python,  and  the  Babylonians  told  of  the  contest  between 
Marduk,  the  creator,  and  Tiamat,  the  chaos  monster. 

30.  Lucifer,  “son  of  the  morning,”  was  the  day  star,  either  the  sun  or 
the  planet  Venus.  The  phrase,  “fallen  from  heaven,”  suggests  the  imagery 
of  a  meteor.  In  the  Middle  Ages  Lucifer  was  identified  with  Satan,  and 
this  identification  was  accepted  by  Milton  in  his  Paradise  Lost;  but  it 
has  no  support  in  the  Book  of  Isaiah.  The  reference  is  to  the  king  of 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


383 


Babylon,  who  had  exalted  himself  to  the  sky,  but  who  was  to  be  plunged 
like  a  falling  star  to  destruction. 

Milton  mentions  also  another  angel  who  fell,  Mulciber,  the  Roman 
Vulcan.  The  beautiful  lines  are  famous: 

“Sheer  o'er  the  crystal  battlements,  from  morn 
To  noon  he  fell,  from  noon  to  dewy  eve, 

A  summer’s. day;  and  with  the  setting  sun 
Dropped  from  the  zenith,  like  a  falling  star. 

On  Lenmos.” 

31.  “The  King  of  Tyre,”  whose  doom  is  announced  by  Ezekiel,  is 
Ethbaal  (Ithobaal  II) .  The  first  Ethbaal,  a  priest  of  Astarte,  was  a  usurper 
who  took  the  throne  about  880  b.c.,  and  had  a  long  and  successful  reign. 
He  was  the  father  of  Jezebel.  The  Ethbaal  of  whom  Ezekiel  speaks  in 
this  beautiful  but  obscure  description  seems  to  be  regarded  as  typical  of 
the  haughty  pride  of  his  people.  He  is  described  satirically  as  “the 
anointed  cherub  that  covereth,”  and  was  “set  upon  the  holy  mountain  of 
God,”  whose  arrogance  is  to  bring  him  and  his  people  “to  ashes.”  He  was 
contemporary  with  King  Jehoiakim,  and  lost  his  independence  at  the 
hands  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  about  600  b.c. 

32.  The  Tyrians  were  the  greatest  sea  traders  of  antiquity,  and  were 
excelled  in  enterprise  and  daring  only  by  the  discoverers  of  America.  They 
had  harbors  all  along  both  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  some  of  them 
extending  as  far  as  Spain.  They  had  rounded  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
“in  ships  no  larger  than  a  herring  boat”;  “their  trade  tapped  river  basins 
as  far  apart  as  those  of  the  Indus,  the  Euphrates,  probably  the  Zambesi, 
the  Nile,  the  Rhone,  and  the  Guadalquivir.”  They  sailed  from  the 
coasts  of  Britain  to  those  of  northwest  India.  Matthew  Arnold  described 
them  thus: 

“As  some  grave  Tyrian  trader  from  the  sea  .  .  . 

.  .  .  snatch’d  his  rudder,  and  shook  out  more  sail, 

And  day  and  night  held  on  indignantly 
O’er  the  blue  Midland  waters  with  the  gale, 

Betwixt  the  Syrtes  and  soft  Sicily, 

To  where  the  Atlantic  raves 
Outside  the  western  straits;  and  unbent  sails 

There,  where  down  cloudy  cliffs,  through  sheets  of  foam, 

Shy  traffickers,  the  dark  Iberians  come; 

And  on  the  beach  undid  his  corded  bales.” 


Tyre,  because  of  its  location  on  an  island  and  its  commercial  grandeur, 
resembled  ancient  Venice,  and  Isaiah’s  description  of  Tyre  would  have 
applied  to  the  Venice  of  the  Doges: 

“The  giver  of  crowns, 

The  maker  of  kings. 


384 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


Whose  merchants  are  princes, 

And  her  traffickers  are  the  honorable  of  the  earth.” 

Unlike  the  Venetians,  the  Tyrians  were  not  creators  or  artists;  they  were 
merely  traders.  “There  is  not  throughout  history  a  more  perfect  incarna¬ 
tion  of  the  mercenary  spirit  than  the  Phoenician  nation.”  They  left  no 
mighty  works;  and  if  it  be  true  that  they  invented  or  disseminated  the 
alphabet,  they  made  no  profitable  use  of  it.  Their  ruin  was  complete,  and 
Tyre  today  is  only  a  stagnant  Turkish  village,  too  unimportant  even  to  be 
a  stop  for  coasting  vessels. 

33.  Beulah.  The  word  means  “married,”  and  is  used  in  prophecy  to 
foretell  that  desolate,  widowed  Israel  shall  be  again  as  happy  as  a  wife  in 
her  own  home.  Bunyan  made  a  beautiful  use  of  the  idea  in  his  The  Pil¬ 
grim’s  Progress ,  when  he  makes  Beulah  Land  the  place  “where  the  Shining 
Ones  commonly  walked,  because  it  was  upon  the  borders  of  heaven.” 
“In  this  country  the  sun  shineth  night  and  day;  wherefore  this  was 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death,  and  also  out  of  the 
reach  of  Giant  Despair;  neither  could  they  from  this  place  so  much  as  see 
Doubting  Castle.  Here  they  were  in  sight  of  the  city  they  were  going  to.” 

34.  Difficulty  of  Restoring  the  Holy  Land  to  the  Jews.  One 
of  the  difficulties  faced  by  the  modern  state  of  Palestine  is  the  fact  that  only 
a  small  percentage  of  the  present  population  is  Jewish.  Thus,  in  the  9,000 
square  miles  included  in  that  part  of  Palestine  west  of  the  Jordan,  there 
were  in  1919,  according  to  “The  Statesman’s  Yearbook,”  515,000  Moslems, 
65,300  Jews,  62,600  Christians,  150  Samaritans,  and  4,900  others.  “The 
feeling  between  Moslem,  Christian,  and  Jew  is  perhaps  more  intense,” 
adds  Dr.  Albert  T.  Clay,  “than  in  any  other  land.” 

35.  World  Influence  of  the  Jew.  Says  Rabbi  Solomon  Schechter: 
“The  selection  of  Israel,  the  indestructibility  of  God’s  Covenant,  the 
immortality  of  Israel  as  a  nation,  and  the  final  restoration  of  Israel  to 
Palestine,  where  the  nation  will  live  a  holy  life,  on  holy  ground,  with  all 
the  wide-reaching  consequences  of  the  conversion  of  humanity,  and  the 
establishment  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  on  earth — all  these  are  the  common 
ideals  and  the  common  ideas  that  permeate  the  whole  of  Jewish  literature 
extending  over  nearly  four  thousand  years.” 

36.  America  the  Refuge  of  the  Nations.  It  seems  as  if  this 
prophecy  had  been  at  last  fulfilled.  Every  immigrant  who  enters  the 
port  of  New  York  looks  first  with  eager  eyes  for  the  Statue  of  Liberty, 
which  casts  the  light  from  its  uplifted  torch  far  across  the  harbor.  To  the 
Jews  particularly,  America  has  been  a  land  of  refuge.  New  York  City  is 
the  largest  Jewish  city  in  the  world,  and  more  Jews  live  there  than  in  the 
whole  of  Palestine.  Of  America’s  welcome  that  eloquent  Jewish  poet, 
Emma  Lazarus,  wrote  these  lines,  now  engraved  upon  the  Liberty  statue: 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


385 


“Keep,  ancient  lands,  your  storied  pomp!”  cries  she 
With  silent  lips.  “Give  me  your  tired,  your  poor, 

Your  huddled  masses  yearning  to  breathe  free, 

The  wretched  refuse  of  your  teeming  shore. 

Send  these,  the  homeless,  tempest-tossed,  to  me; 

I  lift  my  lamp  beside  the  golden  door!” 

THE  WORDS  OF  THE  WISE 

37.  The  Hebrew  World.  Here,  and  in  the  first  of  the  two  ac¬ 
counts  of  the  creation,  we  see  how  the  Hebrews  regarded  the  world.  The 
earth  was  a  flat  expanse,  bordered  by  the  sea  and  covered  by  the  arching 
firmament.  Above  the  firmament  were  waters,  from  which  dropped  the 
rain;  and  below  the  earth  was  the  “great  deep”  of  water,  whose  fountains 
were  opened  to  make  the  deluge.  Somewhere  below  the  earth,  also,  was 
Sheol,  or  Hell,  the  abode  of  the  dead.  The  sun,  moon,  and  stars  moved  in 
the  firmament,  above  the  clouds.  These  conceptions  are  not  taught  in  the 
Bible:  they  were  merely  inherited  from  earlier  ages  and  shared  by  the 
peoples  of  Semitic  origin.  In  the  early  Babylonian  literature  these  ideas 
are  elaborated  in  fantastic  detail. 

38.  The  Wise.  In  Doughty’s  Arabia  Deserta  there  is  a  description  of 
a  session  of  “wise  men”  in  a  modern  Palestine  home.  “In  the  shadow  at 
the  rear  the  young  men  who  had  been  admitted  sat  in  silence.  The  old 
men,  elders  of  the  village  community,  sat  in  a  row  on  stone  benches  right 
and  left  of  the  door.  The  elders  sat  silently  leaning  on  their  staves,  except 
now  and  then,  when  one  of  them  would  slowly  rise  and  expatiate  on  some¬ 
thing  the  sheik  had  said,  beginning  his  interruption  almost  literally  in  the 
words  of  Job’s  friends:  ‘Hearken  unto  me,  I  also  will  show  my  opinion.’ 
So  has  it  been  in  Palestine  since  time  out  of  mind.” 

The  difference  between  the  Greek  way  of  approaching  knowledge  and 
the  Hebrew  way  was  that  the  Greek  was  a  philosopher,  the  Hebrew  an 
observer.  The  Greek  used  his  reason  to  solve  the  enigmas  of  human  life; 
the  Hebrew  began  with  belief  in  the  Divine,  and  then  started  to  interpret 
life  as  tokens  of  his  working.  “Unless  he  began  with  the  ‘God  who  is,’ 
he  could  see  no  clue  to  the  ‘things  that  are.’” 

39.  Old  People  in  the  Bible.  Nothing  is  more  beautiful  in  Oriental 
life  than  the  respect  that  is  shown  for  old  age,  regardless  of  any  accom¬ 
paniment  of  wealth,  office  or  personal  accomplishment.  “Thou  shalt  rise 
up  before  the  hoary  head,”  was  the  Mosaic  national  law.  One  of  the 
loveliest  stanzas  in  the  Wisdom  of  Ben  Sirach  is  this  appreciation  of  age: 

“As  the  clear  light  is  upon  the  holy  candlestick, 

So  is  the  beauty  of  the  face  in  ripe  age; 

As  the  golden  pillars  are  upon  the  sockets  of  silver. 

So  are  the  fair  feet  with  a  constant  heart.” 


386 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


JOB  HEARING  OF  HIS  RUIN 

From  a  drawing  by  Gustave  Dore 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


387 


Old  age  was  believed  to  be  wise.  Other  young  men  in  the  East  beside 
Elihu  in  the  Rook  of  Job  have  acknowledged  that 
“Days  should  speak, 

And  multitude  of  years  should  teach  wisdom.” 

This  wisdom  gave  the  old  an  almost  official  authority,  so  that  all  listened 
when  the  old  men  of  the  village  uttered  their  thoughts.  The  result  was 
that  there  was  a  deep  affection  for  the  aged.  The  happiest  dream  of  the 
ideal  state  was: 

“There  shall  yet  old  men  and  old  women  dwell  in  the  streets 
of  Jerusalem, 

And  every  man  with  his  staff  in  his  hand  for  very  age.” 


JOB 


40.  Uz,  the  home  of  Job,  has  been  identified  as  having  been  in  the 
North  Arabian  Desert  about  two  hundred  miles  east  of  Petra.  It  has  been 
located  in  the  oasis  of  Jauf,  and  possibly  at  the  village  of  Owsit,  which  at 
least  suggests  Uz.  It  is  described  as  “a  broad,  deep  valley,  everywhere 
studded  with  tufts  of  palm  groves  and  clustering  fruit  trees  in  dark  green 
patches,  with  flat  house-roofs  half  buried  amid  the  garden  foliage,  the 
whole  plunged  in  a  perpendicular  flood  of  light  and  heat.”  Its  fertility  is 
great,  and  is  aided  by  irrigation,  so  that  its  dates  and  other  fruits  are 
famous  throughout  Arabia. 


41.  The  Sons  of  God  were  the  hosts  of  angels,  who  were  thought  of 
as  members  of  God's  heavenly  court,  or  soldiers  of  his  celestial  army.  The 
Lord  God  of  “hosts”  meant  the  God  of  the  angels.  When  spoken  of  as 
“watchers,”  they  are  thought  of  as  listening  to  God’s  counsels  in  his  court. 
As  his  “ministers,”  or  servants,  they  make  use  of  the  forces  of  nature,  but 
they  are  not  identified  with  them.  They  are  thought  of  as  intermediary 
between  God  and  men;  and  in  one  of  the  narratives  in  Genesis  they  are 
spoken  of  as  having  come  down  to  earth,  intermarrying  with  the  daughters 
of  men,  and  having  become  the  parents  of  “the  mighty  men  of  old,  men  of 


renown. 

When  “the  Angel  of  his  Presence”  is  spoken  of,  the  thought  seems  to 
be  that  God  himself  condescends  to  the  form  of  a  messenger,  and  the  word 
that  is  given  has  the  authority  of  God  himself. 

The  Jews  in  later  times  placed  the  angels  in  varying  ranks,  regarding 
four  as  the  archangels.  These  four  were  Gabriel,  the  interpreter  of  dreams, 
whose  field  of  service  was  the  earth,  whose  assistants  were  the  cherubs, 
and  who  was  the  guardian  of  Paradise;  Michael,  whose  field  of  service  was 
heaven,  and  who  was  the  special  guardian  of  Israel;  Uriel,  whose  charge 
were  the  sun  and  moon;  and  Raphael,  whose  care  was  the  spirits  of  men. 
In  the  Book  of  Tobit  the  angels  are  reckoned  as  seven,  of  whom  Raphael 


is  one. 


388 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


42.  Satan  in  the  Book  of  Job,  or  more  properly  “the  Satan,”  or 
“the  Adversary,”  is  portrayed  as  that  one  among  the  Sons  of  God  who 
form  his  heavenly  council  whose  field  of  service  is  this  earth.  He  goes  up 
and  down  in  it  and  makes  stated  reports  of  his  territory,  as  do  the  other 
Sons.  His  function  has  been  stated  to  have  been  that  of  “a  celestial  prose¬ 
cuting  attorney."  He  tries  men,  to  find  out  whether  they  deserve  approval. 
He  is  not  pictured  as  evil  or  malicious;  but  his  experience  has  no  doubt 
made  him  cynical,  and  the  step  from  testing  men  to  tempting  them  is,  of 
course,  a  short  one. 

There  is  no  authority  in  Job  for  the  supposition  that  this  Satan  was  a 
fallen  or  a  rebellious  angel,  or  for  those  magnificent  portraits  in  Dante  and 
in  Milton  of  “that  emperor  who  sways  the  realm  of  sorrow”;  or  of  the 
archangel,  whose  face 

“Deep  scars  of  thunder  had  intrenched,  and  care 
Sat  on  his  faded  cheek,  but  under  brows 
Of  dauntless  courage,  and  considerate  pride 
Waiting  revenge.” 

The  Satan  of  Milton,  possibly  partly  because  of  the  poet’s  known  sympathy 
for  fallen  royalty,  is  so  magnificent  that  he  has  been  called  “the  hero  of 
Paradise  Lost .”  But,  in  the  later  Scriptures,  especially  in  the  Book  of  Reve¬ 
lation,  the  attitude  is  rather  that  of  contempt  for  one  who  has  become  an 
ignoble,  because  no  longer  a  non-partisan,  Adversary. 

43.  Redeemer.  This  word  in  Jewish  criminal  law  was  applied  to 
“the  avenger  of  blood,”  who  was  the  next  of  kin,  authorized  to  secure 
blood-revenge  for  homicide  or  murder.  In  the  Book  of  Job  and  in  two 
other  cases,  the  word  refers  to  the  “advocate,”  whose  business  it  is  to 
defend  the  innocent  and  helpless  from  all  wrong  and  dishonor.  Job,  seek¬ 
ing  to  reach  the  ear  of  the  Almighty,  rises  to  the  lofty  faith  that  God  is  not 
only  a  fair  judge  but  his  own  personal  defender.  The  following  translation 
brings  the  thought  out  even  more  clearly: 

“I  know  that  my  Advocate  is  alive, 

And  afterward  on  the  dust  he  shall  stand  up; 

And  after  they  destroy  even  this,  my  skin, 

Without  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God, 

Whom  I  shall  behold  for  vie, 

And  mine  eyes  shall  behold,  no  more  a  Stranger.” 

44.  The  Self-respect  of  Job.  “The  real  grandeur  of  Job  was  his 
impatience.  His  humility  before  God  is  but  the  more  beautiful  side  of  his 
anger  with  his  friends,  and  his  self-abasement  before  his  Maker  is  the 
crowning  dignity  of  a  self-respect  which  is  one  of  the  epics  of  the  world. 
The  only  proof  he  had  of  his  righteousness  was  himself.” 

—  Gerald  Stanley  Lee 

45.  Leviathan,  in  one  or  two  Biblical  references,  seems  to  be  the 
mythical  sea  monster,  in  whom  all  ancient  people  believed.  In  the  Book 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES 


389 


of  Job  he  is  clearly  the  crocodile,  although  so  glorified  in  the  description 
as  to  suggest  traces  of  the  primeval  monster. 

46.  Job  and  Sophocles.  “An  interesting  analogy  to  Job’s  solution 
of  the  problem,”  says  Alexander  R.  Gordon,  “may  be  found  in  Sophocles' 
ripest  dramas.  Sophocles  views  suffering  in  the  light  of  the  eternal  har¬ 
mony  of  things.  Thus,  the  grievous  sorrows  Philoctetes  had  to  bear  are 
conceived  to  have  been  laid  upon  him  ‘by  the  care  of  one  of  the  gods,’ 
that  he  might  be  held  in  reserve,  and  braced  in  character  for  his  appointed 
task  in  the  overthrow  of  Troy.  The  tragedy  of  (Edipus  ends  in  the  same 
atmosphere  of  peace.  The  sorely  afflicted  hero  finds  himself  now  recon¬ 
ciled  to  Heaven,  surrounded  by  the  love  of  devoted  children,  and  honored 
by  the  friendship  of  Athens  and  its  chivalrous  king,  and  gently  yields  his 
life  to  the  touch  of  the  gods,  his  destiny  thus  finding  ‘a  perfect  end.'  In 
both  these  dramas,  Sophocles  views  the  problem  of  human  suffering  with 
the  eye  of  faith;  and  in  proportion  as  he  sets  before  him  an  ideal  of  an 
all-powerful  divinity,  who  is  merciful,  loving,  and  gracious,  so  does  it 
become  easy  for  him  to  bear  patiently  with  the  evil  and  suffering  in  the 
world,  in  the  serene  belief  that,  were  man's  vision  wide  enough,  he  would 
see  joy  and  sorrow  to  be  parts  of  one  harmonious  whole.” 

47.  The  Larger  Faith  of  Job.  “He  was  too  spiritual  to  have  a 

Land-of-Uz  God,  or  a  Job’s  God,  or  a  Jews’  God.  With  their  tiny,  com¬ 
pacted,  Land-ofTJz  faith,  his  friends  gathered  around  him,  and  accused 
him  of  blasphemy  because  God  was  so  much  more  of  a  God  to  him  than  to 
them;  because  he  gave  him  room  and  gave  him  time — -the  prerogatives  of 
a  God.”  —  Gerald  Stanley  Lee 


BIBLE  REFERENCE  INDEX 


This  index  shows  the  Biblical  passages  used  on  any  particular  page  of 
this  volume.  The  figures  in  heavy  type  indicate  chapters  and  the  figures 
in  light  face  type  indicate  the  verses. 


Page 

Bible  Reference 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

7 

Amos 

7:14-15 

32 

Micah 

6:10-14, 16 

65 

Ezekiel 

3:12-19 

cc 

2:9-12 

37 

Jeremiah  1:4-12 

u 

5:1-2 

cc 

2:14-16 

cc 

1:17-18 

66 

a 

5:3-5 

8 

cc 

3:3-8 

38 

cc 

1:19 

u 

5:12 

cc 

5:12 

39 

cc 

15:15-18 

a 

12:1 

9 

cc 

5:13,2 

cc 

17:14-16 

a 

12:3-10 

cc 

3:10-15 

40 

u 

17:17 

67 

(i 

12:11-12 

cc 

5:18-19 

u 

30:3 

u 

12 :21-25 

cc 

5 :4-5 

u 

32 :37-40 

a 

24:15-17 

10 

cc 

5:6,  8 

a 

30:17-21 

68 

a 

24:18-24 

cc 

5:21 

41 

a 

30 :22 

69 

a 

44:15-19 

11 

a 

5 :22-24 

a 

3:16-18 

70 

a 

44:20-21 

cc 

5:14 

a 

33:15-16 

71 

a 

44 :22-24 

u 

9:11-15 

43 

a 

31:31-34 

Cl 

43:1-7 

14 

Hosea 

14:3-8 

46 

Nahum 

1:3-5,  7 

(C 

43:10-11 

15 

cc 

11:1,3,8 

u 

1:15 

72 

Cl 

43:12 

cc 

12:1  3 

a 

3:1,7 

a 

44:1-3 

16 

cc 

12:4-7 

47 

u 

3:8-13 

a 

46:1-3 

cc 

12:11-14 

a 

3:17,  19 

CC 

47:1 

cc 

13:1 

51 

Zeph. 

1:14-17 

73 

CC 

47:2-12 

17 

cc 

13:4 

u 

2:1-3 

75 

Cl 

37:22-27 

cc 

2:14-15 

52 

u 

3:9-15 

CC 

47 :22 

cc 

2:19-20 

53 

u 

3:16-20 

76 

CC 

47:23 

21 

Isaiah 

6:1-8 

56 

Habakkuk  3 :3-6 

CC 

48:35 

cc 

5:1 

a 

3:9-11 

77 

Isaiah 

40:1-3 

23 

cc 

5:2-7 

u 

3:13,  15 

78 

CC 

40:4-11 

24 

cc 

2:2-5 

57 

a 

3:17  19 

79 

CC 

40:12-22 

cc 

9:6  7 

61 

Ezekiel 

1:1 

80 

CC 

40:23-31 

25 

cc 

11:1-8 

a 

1 :4-13 

81 

C( 

47:1-3 

26 

cc 

11:9  10 

62 

a 

1:14-19 

CC 

47:5-12 

cc 

26:1  4 

63 

a 

1 : 20-2 2 

82 

CC 

47:13-15 

30 

Micah 

6:6-8 

a 

1 :24-28 

CC 

48:20-22 

cc 

1 :2 -5 

a 

2:1-3 

CC 

52:13-15 

31 

cc 

1:6-7 

64 

a 

2:4-10 

83 

CC 

53:1-8 

cc 

3:5-8 

u 

3:1 

84 

CC 

53:9-12 

cc 

6:9 

65 

u 

3:2-3 

86 

Obadiah 

1:1-7 

391 


392 


BIBLE  REFERENCE  INDEX 


Page 

Bible  Reference 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

87  Obadiah 

1:8-12 

121 

Job 

24:6-17 

140 

Hosea 

7:6-10 

u 

1:14-15 

122  Amos 

8:4-6 

141 

u 

7:11-16 

88 

u 

1:16-21 

Habakkuk  2 :9-10 

Isaiah 

32 :9-10 

89 

Zech. 

5:1-4 

Amos 

5:11-12 

143 

u 

32:11-15 

91 

a 

1:8-17 

123 

u 

5:13-20 

Deut. 

27:17-19 

92 

u 

5:5-11 

Ezekiel 

22:29 

u 

27:24 

u 

6:1-6 

124 

u 

22 :30-31 

Psalms 

55:9-10 

93 

u 

6:7-8 

Zech. 

7:9-12 

144 

u 

55:11 

95 

Malachi 

3:1-5 

125 

Isaiah 

59:1-8 

Jeremiah 

5 :26-29 

96 

a 

3:6,8 

126 

u 

59:9-11 

Isaiah 

5:18-19 

97 

a 

3:9-10 

Amos 

5:7-8 

a 

5:14,  17 

u 

3:16-17 

u 

6:12 

Micah 

7:2 

u 

4:5-6 

Micah 

3:1 

146 

u 

7:3-6 

99  Joel 

1 :4,  6-7 

127 

a 

3:2-4 

Jeremiah 

6:13-14 

a 

2:1 

Isaiah 

10:1-4 

Hosea 

4:1-3 

101 

u 

2:2-9 

128 

d 

1:23 

147 

Isaiah 

28:14-16 

102 

u 

2:10-11 

Micah 

3:9-12 

148 

u 

28:17-18 

103 

u 

2:12-19 

129 

Isaiah 

5:8-9 

u 

29:13-16 

105 

a 

2 :21-32 

a 

5:11-12 

149 

a 

29:17-20 

106 

Isaiah 

26:1-4 

a 

5:22 

u 

65:1-5 

107  Zech. 

9:9-12 

Amos 

6:1,  3-4 

150 

u 

65 :6— 7 

a 

14:6 

130 

a 

6:5-6 

u 

26:20-21 

109 

u 

14:7-9 

Isaiah 

56:12 

Job 

36:10-12 

114 

Isaiah 

8:14 

Habakkuk  2 : 15-1 7 

151 

Hosea 

10:12 

u 

25:4 

131 

Isaiah 

28:7,  1-4 

Isaiah 

57:14-15 

Zech. 

8:16-17 

Jeremiah 

7:17 

u 

57:18-21 

Isaiah 

26:5 

132 

u 

7:18-19 

152 

a 

58 :3-9 

115 

a 

26:6-9 

Ezekiel 

8:5-11 

153 

u 

1:11-17 

u 

2:7-8 

133 

u 

8:12-16 

154 

u 

1 : 18-20 

(l 

2:17-18 

134 

u 

8:17-18 

Jeremiah 

7:3-7 

Jeremiah  22:2 

Habakkuk  2 : 18-20 

u 

3:14-15 

116 

u 

22 :3-4 

Hosea 

8:5-6 

155 

u 

3 : 19-22 

Isaiah 

51:12-16 

135 

a 

8:7 

u 

17:5-8 

117  Jeremiah 

8:7 

u 

8:11-14 

156 

Isaiah 

63  :l-6 

118 

u 

8:11 

136 

(C 

9:10 

u 

32:1 

u 

6:15-17 

Jeremiah 

7:8-16 

157 

u 

32:2 

(l 

25:3-4 

Isaiah 

30:8-10 

u 

32:16-18 

(l 

8:20,  22 

137 

« 

30:11-14 

a 

32 :20 

a 

9:2 

Jeremiah  23:28-32 

Micah 

5:2-5 

119 

Isaiah 

22:12-13 

138  Ezekiel 

13:17-18 

159 

Ezekiel 

34:23 

u 

3:14-15 

u 

13 :22-23 

a 

34 :25-27 

Habakkuk  2 : 12-1 4 

Jeremiah 

5:30-31 

Jeremiah  23 :3-6 

Jeremiah  22:13 

139 

Ezekiel 

22:25,28 

161 

Isaiah 

41 :8-ll 

120 

u 

22:14-17 

Hosea 

6 :4-9 

162 

u 

41:12-13 

Job 

24:2-5 

u 

7:1-3,  5 

a 

43:10-12 

BIBLE  REFERENCE  INDEX 


393 


Page 

Bible  Reference 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

162 

Isaiah 

44:2-4 

182 

Jeremiah  25:10 

217 

Isaiah 

60:20-21 

u 

44:21 

Isaiah 

1:8 

Jeremiah 

31:18-20 

163 

u 

44:22-23 

Joel 

1:11-12 

219 

u 

31:21-24 

u 

50 :4— 8 

183 

Isaiah 

64:1-7 

Isaiah 

42:16 

164 

a 

50:9-10 

184 

u 

64:8-10 

u 

34:16 

u 

42:1-4 

185 

it 

64:11 

220 

u 

34:17 

a 

61:1 

Amos 

7:1-3 

Ezekiel 

36:37-38 

165 

u 

61 :2-3 

186 

« 

7:4-9 

Isaiah 

43 :3-7 

169 

Genesis 

49 :3-4 

it 

8:1-3 

221 

u 

52:1-3 

Deut. 

33 :6 

187 

Jeremiah 

13:16 

ll 

45:17 

Genesis 

49:8-11 

u 

13 :20-24 

ll 

11:12 

170 

it 

49:12-13 

Lam. 

5:6 

Micah 

4:4-5 

Dent. 

33:18-19 

u 

5:12-13 

222 

Isaiah 

14:1-2 

Genesis 

49:14-16 

188 

a 

5:14-18 

u 

54:1-4 

171 

it 

49:17 

Isaiah 

21:11-12 

223 

a 

54 :5-8 

Dent. 

33 :22 

Micah 

7:14-15 

a 

54:10-13 

Genesis 

49:19 

Isaiah 

63:15 

u 

52:7 

Deut. 

33 :20-21 

190 

u 

63:16 

224 

a 

52 :8-10 

Genesis 

49:20 

a 

8:7-10 

a 

63 :7-9 

Deut. 

33 :24-25 

191 

Zech. 

12:8-11 

225 

a 

55:1-7 

172 

Genesis 

49:21 

Lam. 

3 :22-27 

226 

a 

55:8-13 

Deut. 

33:23 

192 

u 

3 :28-33 

Ezekiel 

11:16 

Genesis 

49:22-26 

Isaiah 

43:1-2 

227 

u 

11:17-20 

Deut. 

33:13 

u 

30:30-31 

a 

36:25-28 

173 

a 

33:14-17 

193 

u 

30:32 

229 

Isaiah 

62 :2— 7 

Genesis 

49:27 

195 

a 

2:12-19 

a 

62:12 

Deut. 

33:12,8 

196 

u 

2 :20-21 

Jeremiah  31 :3 

174 

u 

33:9-11 

Joel 

3:13-17 

230 

a 

3 1 :4-5 

a 

33 :26-29 

197 

Isaiah 

24:1-6 

a 

31:8-9 

a 

1 1 :22-23 

a 

13:2 

Isaiah 

7:21-22 

175 

u 

11:24-25 

198 

u 

13:3-11 

ii 

51:3 

Zech. 

9:16-17 

199 

a 

13:12-20 

231 

ii 

65:8 

Isaiah 

30 :29-30 

201 

a 

13:21-22 

232 

ii 

65:9-10 

u 

41:17-18 

it 

14:4-9 

Amos 

9:13-15 

176 

a 

41:19-20 

202 

u 

14:10-19 

Isaiah 

4:2 

it 

66:10 

204 

a 

14:20 

233 

ii 

4:5-6 

a 

66:12-13 

205 

Ezekiel 

32:1-6 

ii 

28:5-6 

u 

33 :20-21 

207 

u 

32 :7-8 

ii 

30:19-21 

177 

u 

33:22 

( l 

28:11-15 

234 

ii 

30:23-26 

Exodus 

19:4-6 

208 

a 

28:16-19 

Jeremiah  31:15-17 

179 

Lam. 

1:1-6 

u 

26:4-5 

235 

ii 

31:10-13 

180 

u 

1:12-19 

209 

Isaiah 

29:8 

Isaiah 

54:16-17 

181 

Zech. 

13:7-9 

213 

u 

60:1-4 

u 

65:17 

Isaiah 

24:7-11 

215 

u 

60:5-11 

236 

ii 

65:18-24 

182 

u 

24:13-15 

216 

a 

60:13-19 

Daniel 

12:1 

BIBLE  REFERENCE  INDEX 


394 


Page 

Bible  Reference 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

GO 

GO 

O* 

Daniel 

12:2-3 

257 

Ecel. 

2:16-17 

268 

Proverbs 

10:2 

239 

Micah 

4:1-4 

it 

9:7-10 

u 

11:18-19 

Isaiah 

49:7 

Proverbs 

3:13-15 

u 

11:27 

240 

it 

49 :8-9 

258 

a 

3:16-26 

a 

12:2-3,7 

a 

49:1-4 

Job 

28:1-3 

u 

13:21 

241 

a 

49 :5-6 

259 

a 

28:4-19 

u 

21:21 

a 

19:18,  21 

260 

it 

28:20-28 

269 

a 

13:9 

a 

19:23-25 

261 

Proverbs 

4:23 

a 

15:6 

Zeeh. 

8:20 

a 

17:3 

a 

10:28 

242 

it 

8:21-23 

u 

14:10 

a 

10:25,30 

Isaiah 

56:6-8 

a 

19:3 

a 

11:5 

243 

a 

61:10-11 

a 

15:14 

a 

18:10 

a 

24:16 

a 

20:24 

u 

14:32,22 

a 

45 :22-23 

a 

20:9 

270 

Ecel. 

8:12 

247 

Proverbs 

1:2-6 

262 

Jeremiah 

17:9 

Proverbs 

10:22 

a 

8:1-8 

Proverbs 

21:2 

n 

16:25 

248 

a 

8:9-23 

a 

16:2 

a 

24:1-2 

249 

a 

8:24-31 

u 

20:27 

a 

24:19-20 

a 

22:17-21 

a 

18:14 

a 

5 :22-23 

250 

it 

4:7-9 

a 

13:12 

a 

21:10 

a 

24 :3-4 

u 

15:24 

271 

u 

13:15 

a 

24:13-14 

a 

27:21 

a 

28:8 

Ecel. 

7:19 

u 

15:3 

u 

21:18 

Proverbs 

5:1-2 

263 

(( 

2:10-14 

a 

18:3 

251 

Ecel. 

7:12 

u 

2:20 

u 

17:13 

Proverbs 

9:10 

264 

u 

2:21-22 

a 

14:19 

it 

16:16 

u 

13:22 

u 

16:4 

a 

13:14 

u 

11:31 

Numbers 

32:23 

a 

17:24 

« 

28:28 

Isaiah 

5:20 

u 

21:11 

a 

21:12 

272 

Jeremiah 

17:5-8 

a 

21:16,  30 

<( 

11:10 

Proverbs 

16:9 

252 

a 

1:7 

(i 

12:10 

a 

20:22 

Ecel. 

7:11 

u 

20:11 

u 

21:31 

Proverbs 

16:22 

266 

a 

15:29,  9 

(C 

16:3 

a 

24:6 

a 

22:5 

273 

a 

5:21 

a 

22:12 

a 

28:5,  1 

u 

29:25 

a 

23:23 

Psalms 

7:9-11 

a 

30:5 

a 

1 :20-23 

Proverbs 

16:31,7 

u 

14:26 

253 

a 

1 :24-33 

267 

a 

4:18 

Psalms 

32:10 

254 

Ecel. 

1:12-18 

Ecel. 

2:26 

a 

64:10 

a 

2:1-2,  4 

Proverbs 

10:27,3 

277 

Job 

1:1-4 

255 

it 

2:5-11 

u 

12:28 

278 

a 

1:5-7 

u 

2:18-20 

a 

11:30 

279 

a 

1:8-16 

256 

it 

2:21-24 

a 

10:16,  24 

280 

a 

1:17-18 

a 

2:12-15 

u 

11:8 

281 

u 

1:19-22 

BIBLE  REFERENCE  INDEX  395 


Page 

Bible  Reference 

281 

Job 

2:1-3 

282 

u 

2:4-12 

283 

ll 

2:13 

Cl 

3:1-3 

284 

(l 

3:4-7 

285 

a 

3:8-15 

a 

3:17-20 

286 

u 

3:21-26 

u 

4:1-3 

287 

Cl 

4:4-15 

289 

u 

4:16-21 

Cl 

5:1-5 

290 

Cl 

5:6-18 

291 

Cl 

5:19-27 

u 

6:1-2 

293 

u 

6:3-14 

294 

u 

6:15-28 

295 

a 

6:29-30 

u 

7:1-10 

296 

u 

7:11-16 

297 

u 

7:17-21 

a 

8:1-4 

298 

u 

8:5-16 

299 

u 

8:17-22 

u 

9:1-6 

300 

u 

9:7-21 

301 

u 

9:22-35 

303 

u 

10:1-13 

304 

u 

10:14-22 

00 

o 

Ot 

u 

11:1-11 

306 

u 

11:12-20 

Cl 

12:1 

307 

ll 

12:2-3 

ll 

12:7-18 

309 

ll 

12:19-25 

ll 

13:1-6 

310 

ll 

13:7-12 

311 

ll 

13:13-26 

312 

ll 

13:27-28 

ll 

14:1-11 

313 

Cl 

14:12-20 

314 

Cl 

14:21-22 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

314  Job 

15:1-10 

315 

ii 

15:11-24 

316 

ii 

15:25-35 

ii 

16:1-3 

317 

ii 

16:4-8 

318 

ii 

16:9-19 

319 

ii 

16:20-22 

a 

17:1-9 

320 

ii 

17:10-16 

321 

a 

18:1-5 

ii 

18:6-21 

322 

a 

19:1-11 

323 

a 

19:12-23 

324 

a 

19:24-29 

ii 

20:1-4 

325 

a 

20:5-19 

326 

ii 

20:20-29 

327 

ii 

21:1-17 

328 

ii 

21:18-30 

329 

ii 

21:31-34 

Cl 

22:1-6 

330 

ti 

22  :7-20 

331 

u 

22 :21-30 

332 

u 

23:1-13 

333 

u 

23:14-17 

u 

24:1-10 

334 

u 

24:11-22 

335 

u 

24:23-25 

u 

26:1-4 

u 

25 :2-6 

Cl 

26:5-6 

336 

ll 

26:7-14 

ll 

27:2-6 

ll 

27:12 

337 

ll 

27:7-11 

ll 

27:13-19 

338 

ll 

27:20-23 

339 

ll 

29:1-14 

340 

ll 

29:15-25 

ll 

30:1  2 

341 

Cl 

30:3-16 

342 

ll 

30:17-30 

Page 

Bible  Reference 

343 

Job 

30:31 

Cl 

31:1-14 

344 

ll 

31:15-28 

345 

ll 

31:29-34 

ll 

31:38-40 

ll 

31:35-37 

346 

ll 

32:1-5 

347 

Cl 

32:6-17 

348 

Cl 

32:18-22 

ll 

33:1-10 

349 

ll 

33:11-23 

350 

ll 

33  :24-33 

ll 

34:1-5 

351 

ll 

34:6-19 

352 

ll 

34:20-31 

353 

Cl 

34 :32-37 

Cl 

35:1-8 

354 

Cl 

35:9-16 

ll 

36:1-8 

355 

ll 

36 :9-22 

356 

ll 

36:23-33 

Cl 

37:1-4 

357 

Cl 

37:5-17 

358 

ll 

37:18-24 

ll 

38:1-3 

359 

ll 

38 :4-9 

360 

ll 

38:10-25 

362 

ll 

38:26-40 

363 

ll 

38:41 

ll 

39:5-18 

364 

Cl 

39:19-30 

ll 

40:1-5 

365 

ll 

40:6-22 

366 

ll 

40:23-24 

ll 

41:1-14 

367 

ll 

41:15-30 

368 

ll 

41:31-34 

370 

ll 

42:1-6 

371 

ll 

42  :7-8 

372 

Cl 

42:9  11 

373 

Cl 

42:12-17 

. 


. 


